North Carolina State Senator Tamara Barringer on Tuesday called for the “substantial and immediate” repeal of a state law that targets the LGBT community.
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At issue in North Carolina is the law known as HB2, which requires transgender people to use restrooms in schools and state government buildings that correspond to the gender on their birth certificate.
However, the law has come under fire from some businesses for being discriminatory, and both the NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference have in recent days canceled championship games that were scheduled to be held in the state.
The NBA moved its 2017 All-Star Game to New Orleans instead of hosting it in Charlotte as originally scheduled because of the law.
“Today’s action by the ACC Council of Presidents is consistent with and reflects the value Virginia Tech places on inclusion and diversity”, the university said.
HB 2 has been roundly criticized across the country with Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski telling USA Today the law was “embarrassing”.
The title game, which has been held in Charlotte since 2010, was scheduled for December 3 at Bank of American Stadium.
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.
Four of the ACC’s 15 members are in North Carolina, and the conference has its headquarters in Greensboro.
The Central Florida Sports Commission said Wednesday it will pursue the ACC championship events, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
The rationale provided by the NCAA included points describing how “the dynamic in North Carolina is different from that of other states”. “As that is our home stadium, I would think most likely it probably wouldn’t be considered on top of the list”. He said Wednesday in a video that the decision by the ACC and a similar one by the NCAA earlier this week are not just about sports, but local communities hosting these events “suffering real economic blows”. In addition to the loss of any and all postseason basketball games, the NCAA’s decision will also take away all championship games in soccer, baseball, lacrosse and tennis.
Calling the NCAA “a multi-billion dollar, tax-exempt monopoly”, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, a Republican, said that the league was failing to show respect to the court system.
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“The ACC Council of Presidents made it clear that the core values of this league are of the utmost importance”, Swofford said in a statement after the presidents met in Clemson, S.C., “and the opposition to any form of discrimination is paramount”.
