Sociology professor discusses high profile boycotts on WDBJ7

Dr. Lane Destro, an assistant sociology professor at Roanoke College, spoke with WDBJ7's Kimberly McBroom for the Mornin' Newsmakers show on April 13 about the effectiveness of high profile boycotts in changing the law. Several musicians have canceled performances in North Carolina recently because of lawmakers' decisions to vote in favor of a bill that prevents transgender people from choosing which public bathrooms they will use.

McBroom and Destro discussed the idea that celebrities who choose not to perform and companies who refrain from expanding their business in a state that is passing controversial bills puts social and economic pressure on the state. 

"When we can see other companies jumping in to provide that economic pressure, as a secondary measure, that really could produce some change in the future, and at least some backlash in conversation," Destro said.

"I think that especially social media outlets provide a really easy and quick way to be in conversation with laws like this, with more extensive social topics in general," she added. "So I think we can expect this trend to continue."