But Yahoo Sports reports that league sources said the National Basketball Association is looking at New Orleans as a possible host for the All-Star Weekend and the All-Star Game on Feb 19.
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To explain its decision, the organization released a statement yesterday afternoon saying, “Our week-long schedule of All-Star events and activities is meant to be a global celebration of basketball, our league, and the values for which we stand, and to bring together all members of the NBA community – current and former players, league and team officials, business partners, and fans”.
HB2, also known as the “bathroom bill”, eliminated discrimination protections against LGBTQ people living in North Carolina.
The NBA announced Thursday its decision to relocate the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte.
The NBA have taken the unprecedented decision to move the 2017 NBA All-Star game from Charlotte, North Carolina, due to the implementation of anti-LGBT laws in the state.
Media reports said the NBA is now looking at moving the traditional midseason game, one of the standout dates of the basketball calendar, to New Orleans but other USA cities are also in the running.
The main issue for the league is centered on North Carolina’s House Bill 2, a law that requires transgender people to use public restrooms that correspond to their sex listed on their birth certificates.
“Our week-long schedule of All-Star events and activities is meant to be a global celebration of basketball, our league, and the values for which we stand, and to bring together all members of the NBA community – current and former players, league and team officials, business partners, and fans”. They include inclusion, diversity, respect and fairness for others and also provide a willingness to consider opposing views and listen.
The NBA made the announcement to pull the game from the city Thursday.
HB2 was passed earlier this year and since then, musicians have dropped out of playing in North Carolina in protest over the law.
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NBA Commission Adam Silver received a letter signed by company executives of Google, Reddit and PayPal, among others, to move the game from North Carolina, as reported by ABC News. “There was an exhaustive effort from all parties to keep the event in Charlotte, and we are disappointed we were unable to do so”.
