The NCAA earlier this week took the unprecedented step of pulling seven championship events from the state over its objection to a law that can allow for discrimination against LGBT people.
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The decision by the ACC was announced Wednesday following the NCAA’s Monday decision to move all championship games out of the state for the same reason.
In July, the National Basketball Association pulled its 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte over objections to H.B. 2. “I’m really happy with how everybody came together”.
McCrory told civic and business leaders he’s going to keep defending North Carolina as inclusive and welcoming.
North Carolina is one of 12 states with a gubernatorial election on tap this year – New Mexico is not one of them – and McCrory is facing a stiff re-election challenge from Democrat Roy Cooper, the state’s attorney general. State Senator Jeff Jackson of Charlotte said the debate over whether the law is hurting North Carolina is now over.
This includes the men’s and women’s golf championships for the 2016-17 season. As we have said many times, UNC institutions do not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, and we are fully committed to being open and welcoming to individuals of all backgrounds.
“We’re interested in all of the NCAA championships as well as the ACC championships that we have facilities to house those events”, said Rick Catlett, President and CEO of the Jacksonville Sports Council.
“It’s one thing for Bruce Springsteen to pull concerts and for PayPal to pull jobs”, Bitzer said, but “when you’re talking about the heart of a sports conference in a state with such loyalty that’s a real punch in the gut about this policy decision, and who’s to be held responsible for it”.
In April, the NCAA announced it was adopting an anti-discrimination measure that would affect the way the governing body evaluates bids to host sporting events and required sites to “demonstrate how they will provide an environment that is safe, healthy and free of discrimination”. Duke’s men’s basketball schedule had to be reconfigured when Albany backed out because of that state’s travel ban, and the Vermont women’s basketball team has canceled a December trip to play North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
“As it relates to the ACC football championship, our friends at Florida Citrus Sports will handle those discussions directly”.
Ben Graumann, spokesperson for Equality NC, said the decisions from the ACC and NCAA to relocate championship events aren’t surprising, given the two organizations’ commitment to protecting fans and players.
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Carter Wrenn, a longtime Republican consultant in North Carolina, said polls he’s seen don’t make House Bill 2 a “cutting issue” – one that makes people change their votes.
