Dolly Parton is offering her support to the trans community in the midst of ongoing targeting and persecution related to so-called "bathroom bills."
While speaking with CNN Money, the country music superstar needed just a few seconds to address the controversy surrounding North Carolina's House Bill 2, a bill signed into law in March by Governor Pat McCrory, which prohibits trans people from using public restrooms that correspond with their gender identity.
"I think everybody should be treated with respect," Parton says in a video posted late last week. "I don’t judge people and I try not to get too caught up in the controversy of things. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are," she added.
Parton, who, unlike acts like Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato, did not cancel her recent North Carolina stop on her Pure and Simple tour, also noted, "I just know if I have to pee, I’m going to pee — I don’t care where it’s going to be."
North Carolina has been ground zero for protests by musical acts, politicians, businesses and others since HB2 passed over two months ago. Not only is the law bringing in bad press for the state, a study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law found that HB2 could cost North Carolina up to $5 billion a year if it isn’t repealed.
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