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Actor Joel McHale Donates Earnings From North Carolina Show To LGBTQ Group

By Jennifer Ricketts
Published on: 08:06 PST, Apr 10, 2016

Joel McHale announced Friday night he’s donating the proceeds from his show in North Carolina to an LGBTQ group. His donation is in response to the state’s new anti-LGBT law. The Community star and former host of The Soup vehemently made a statement that he is against the new legislation, known as HB2, which repeals laws to protect the LGBTQ community. As a result, transgender people must use public restrooms based on the gender they’re assigned at birth rather than the gender they identify with, according to the Huffington Post.

HB2, officially called the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, not only forbids transgender people from using public restrooms according to the gender they identify with, but the law also prohibits LGBT citizens from suing when they experience discrimination in the workplace, which has many people, including McHale, up in arms.

McHale performed at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Friday and promised the audience he would donate “every single dime I make tonight” to the city’s LGBTQ Center in support of the LGBTQ community. McHale also made an LGBTQ t-shirt out of duct tape to show his support.

During his show, McHale expressed to the audience the extent to which he is against the recently passed bill.

“There was a moment where I wasn’t going to come tonight. What the f**k is wrong with your government? It’s crazy! I know you guys are cool because your city council passed a resolution opposing that stupid f**king bill… I am going to donate every single dime I make tonight to the LGBTQ Center — every single dime.”

Buzzfeed wrote that McHale’s donation to the cause showed the comedic actor has a “heart of gold.” McHale had many supporters who took to Twitter expressing their gratitude to McHale for donating his proceeds, People reported.

McHale’s rep gave a statement regarding the star’s decision to donate to the proceeds from his show to the LGBTQ group. Instead of cancelling his show and boycotting North Carolina, McHale decided to he could go about showing his disagreement in another way.

“Joel is vehemently opposed to HB2 and knows there are many in Durham (which recently passed a measure condemning the law) that share the feeling. He felt this was a good way to raise awareness and much needed funds for a local center that is on the front line of this important cause.”

The exact amount of Joel McHale’s donation will be revealed on Monday, when McHale’s agents and the venue confirm the amount of money his show brought in. One thing is for certain right now, and that’s how much McHale is against the legislature.

Helena Cragg, the board chair for the LGBTQ Center of Durham, called McHale’s donation “heartwarming.”

“As a new center we generously appreciate that kind of support in this moment while our people are hurting over the ways our local general assembly is not treating them properly,” Cragg said. “It’s heartwarming to get that kind of support from someone passing through and performing.”

McHale joins other celebrities and companies in lashing out against the law, including Bruce Springsteen, who cancelled his concert, and PayPal, which had planned to add 400 jobs in the state. CNN reports that Apple and Facebook have also voiced their opposition to the law.

Explaining his reasons for cancelling his concert, Springsteen wrote on his website, “I feel that this is a time for me and the band to show solidarity for those freedom fighters… Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them.”

What do you think of Joel McHale’s donation to the LGBTQ Center of Durham?

[Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images]

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