The NBA is moving its 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte, North Carolina, given its objections to a state law decried as discriminatory against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
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Republican Gov. Charlie Baker signed the bill earlier this month.
The league’s decision comes less than a month after North Carolina legislators revisited the law and chose to leave it largely unchanged.
In a statement posted to the National Basketball Association website, league stated that whilst all avenues were explored with the city of Charlotte, the league can not hold the event in the legislative and social climate created by HB2.
Charlotte officials have said they expected the event to have an economic impact of around $100 million, based on data from recent All-Star Games in the comparable New Orleans and Orlando markets.
The bill, which was passed via the state’s special session in March, prohibits local municipalities from legislating ordinances aimed at protecting members of the LGBT in relation to their use of public restrooms.
“There was an exhaustive effort from all parties to keep the event in Charlotte, and we are disappointed we were unable to do so”, Michael Jordan, chairman of the Charlotte Hornets, said in a statement. “Twenty-one other states have joined North Carolina to challenge the federal overreach by the Obama administration mandating their bathroom policies in all businesses and schools instead of allowing accommodations for unique circumstances”.
The league left the door open to return to North Carolina in 2019 “provided there is an appropriate resolution to this matter”.
IBM, Google and Apple also condemned the law.
Several NBA stars have also reacted, including Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry – who grew up in Charlotte while his father.
“All-Star weekend would have provided an excellent opportunity to further showcase our great and welcoming city”. The Pelicans are owned by Tom Benson.
“But at the end of the day, I love my city, I love Charlotte, I love everything about it, I love the people there, and I really wanted to see them celebrate the game”.
“We appreciate the leadership of the National Basketball Association in standing up for equality and call once again on lawmakers to repeal this vile HB2 law”.
Other NBA teams backed the move, something summed up by Gregg Popovich in Las Vegas with Team USA.
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On Thursday, Jordan thanked city leaders for their support. We are confident that they will be just as supportive and enthusiastic for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.
