Wilco Cancels Indiana Concert Over ‘Thinly Disguised Legal Discrimination’

This Sept. 30, 2011 photo shows Jeff Tweedy, of the band Wilco, in Nashville, Tenn. Wilco's latest album, "The Whole Love," debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and sold 82,000 copies. (AP Photo/Donn Jones)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The alternative rock band Wilco on Monday slammed Indiana’s new anti-gay “religious freedom” bill as “thinly disguised legal discrimination” in a tweet announcing that an upcoming concert in the state was canceled.

Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy has been outspoken about LGBT rights in the past. Tweedy, a Chicago-area native, wrote a letter to his local newspaper in 2013 to urge Illinois residents to support passing same-sex marriage legislation.

Indiana officials over the weekend scrambled to contain the fallout from the newly enacted law, which critics say would protect business owners who refuse to serve gay couples because of religious objections. Top Republican lawmakers in the state said Monday that they plan to push for an amendment “clarifying” that the bill doesn’t allow for discrimination.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. An amendment to a law clarifying that the bill, which allows discrimination because of religious objections, doesn’t allow for discrimination. M’kay.

  2. OK, now THIS hurts. Good for Tweedy to be out in front on this.

  3. Avatar for dv01 dv01 says:

    Tweedy can be a real jerk, but good for him on this.

  4. Somebody buy that dude a comb.

    And then get off my lawn.

  5. I’m not familiar with this group, but am familiar with the issue, and glad to see the momentum building by way of boycotts. Let the governor and his minions suffer the consequences of their barely thinly veiled discrimination.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

43 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for publishermike Avatar for jamesjc Avatar for jw1 Avatar for ichthus Avatar for doninsd Avatar for dv01 Avatar for deckbose Avatar for goethean Avatar for mikem42 Avatar for leftflank Avatar for braxtonbraggart Avatar for fargo116 Avatar for easydm Avatar for hippocritic Avatar for teenlaqueefa Avatar for cvilledem Avatar for shadowhappy Avatar for ched Avatar for jkrogman Avatar for theghostofeustacetilley Avatar for hoagie Avatar for pine Avatar for wsayscoupgood

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: