The NCAA came out with a statement earlier this week stating that they are removing all championship tournament games to be played in North Carolina and relocating them due to the HB2 law. To recap, the HB2 law requires people to use the public bathroom of their birth identity. This law also makes it difficult for LGBT people to sue for discrimination.
There have been repercussions all across North Carolina since this law was announced. Protests were held and some preforms like Bruce Springsteen, canceled their performances that were to be held in North Carolina. PayPal also took their business elsewhere.
The NCAA’s decision isn’t all that socking considering this summer the NBA moved the 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte because of the HB2 law. The NCAA has been public about their support for the LGBT community. However, this recent hit is getting more reactions due to the fact that North Carolina is known for their prestigious college level basketball programs.
One of the biggest events affected by this decision is the Division I men’s basketball tournament. There were to be six first – and second-round games scheduled to be played in Greensboro in March 2017. This is a big blow to the North Carolina men’s basketball teams who regularly do well in the tournament. North Carolina made it the NCAA championship game last year and Duke won the year before.
Needless to say, basketball is something that North Carolina takes great pride in. According to the New York Times, North Carolina has hosted more men’s basketball tournaments than any other state.
Other events affected include: Division I women’s soccer (Cary), Division I women’s lacrosse (Cary), Division III men’s and women’s soccer (Greensboro), Division II men’s and women’s tennis (Cary), Division II baseball (Cary) and regionals for Division I women’s golf (Greenville).
The situation got worse when a statement from North Carolina Republican Party spokesperson, Kami Mueller, was released:
“This is so absurd it’s almost comical. I genuinely look forward to the NCAA merging all men’s and women’s teams together as singular, unified, unisex teams. Under the NCAA’s logic, colleges should make cheerleaders and football players share bathrooms, showers and hotel rooms. This decision is an assault to female athletes across the nation. If you are unwilling to have women’s bathrooms and locker rooms, how do you have a women’s team? I wish the NCAA was this concerned about the women who were raped at Baylor. Perhaps the NCAA should stop with their political peacocking and instead focus their energies on making sure our nation’s collegiate athletes are safe, both on and off the field.”
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton took to twitter to announce her support for the NCAA’s decision:
It’s important to know that the courts and federal government can’t fix HB2, only North Carolina lawmakers can.
So the question needs to be asked: when is something going to be done about HB2 before things get worse for North Carolina?
Images:
http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2011/05/11/ncaa-logox-large.jpg
http://cbsnews3.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2016/03/28/9c53759b-fa5d-4417-893…