Tag: anti-LGBT

The NCAA Board of Governors has “reluctantly” voted that North Carolina’s fake repeal of anti-LGBT law HB2 is enough to lift the boycott of any championship games in the state.

Via press release:

In August of 2016, the NCAA Board of Governors instructed the relocation of NCAA championships scheduled in North Carolina during the 2016-17 academic year because of the cumulative impact HB2 had on local communities’ ability to ensure a safe, healthy, discrimination-free atmosphere for all those watching and participating in our events.

Last week, the elected officials of North Carolina enacted compromise legislation that repealed HB2 and replaced it with a new law, HB142, that addressed a number of the concerns that led to the relocation of the NCAA championships. As with most compromises, this new law is far from perfect.

The NCAA did not lobby for any specific change in the law. The Board of Governors, however, was hopeful that the state would fully repeal HB2 in order to allow the host communities to ensure a safe, healthy, discrimination-free atmosphere for the championship sites. While the new law meets the minimal NCAA requirements, the board remains concerned that some may perceive North Carolina’s moratorium against affording opportunities for communities to extend basic civil rights as a signal that discriminatory behavior is permitted and acceptable, which is inconsistent with the NCAA Bylaws.

[snip]

In the end, a majority on the NCAA Board of Governors reluctantly voted to allow consideration of championship bids in North Carolina by our committees that are presently meeting. The NCAA championships previously awarded to North Carolina for 2017-18 will remain in the state. The board, however, directs that any site awarded a championship event in North Carolina or elsewhere be required to submit additional documentation demonstrating how student-athletes and fans will be protected from discrimination.

It’s worth noting that for some unfathomable reason (other than LGBT animus), the newly passed HB142 blocks cities/townships/local municipalities from passing any protections for LGBTQ people until 2020. For what good reason is this clause included in the legislation?

And even after that period passes, local governments will still be blocked from guaranteeing trans people are able to safely use bathrooms that align with their gender identity.

How this isn’t seen as the definition of LGBTQ discrimination escapes me.

The Human Rights Campaign and Equality NC respond:

“The NCAA’s decision to backtrack on their vow to protect LGBTQ players, employees and fans is deeply disappointing and puts people at risk,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “After drawing a line in the sand and calling for repeal of HB2, the NCAA simply let North Carolina lawmakers off the hook.”

“It is disappointing to see the NCAA backpedal after it stood strong against the deeply discriminatory HB2,” said Equality NC Executive Director Chris Sgro. “HB142 continues the same discriminatory scheme put forward by HB2 and does little to protect the NCAA’s players, employees, and fans. The NCAA’s decision has put a seal of approval on state-sanctioned discrimination.”

After rushing new legislation through both the state House and Senate of North Carolina, which was touted as a “repeal” of anti-LGBT law HB2,  Gov. Roy Cooper has signed HB142.

The Human Rights Campaign issued a statement which read, in part:

Today, HRC, Equality North Carolina, and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), strongly condemned North Carolina’s shameful new legislation that lawmakers and Governor Cooper touted as a “repeal” of their discriminatory HB2 law.

“After more than a year of inaction, today North Carolina lawmakers doubled-down on discrimination,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “This new law does not repeal HB2. Instead, it institutes a statewide prohibition on equality by banning non-discrimination protections across North Carolina and fuels the flames of anti-transgender hate. Each and every lawmaker who supported this bill has betrayed the LGBTQ community. HRC will explore every legal action to combat this dangerous legislation, and we urge all businesses, sports leagues and entertainers who have fought against HB2 to continue standing strong with the LGBTQ community attacked by this hateful law.”

The legislation passed today would effectively ban LGBTQ non-discrimination protections statewide through 2020 and permanently bar cities from passing laws that ensure transgender people can access facilities in accordance with their identity. ”

This was all done to meet a deadline imposed by the NCAA, which had told the state of North Carolina to either repeal HB2 or lose any championship games for the next five years.

No word yet on whether or not this fake repeal will actually satisfy the NCAA.

Yesterday, the NCAA reaffirmed it’s position against North Carolina’s anti-LGBT law, HB2.

With upcoming deadlines looming for the decisions on championship sites for the next five years, the NCAA’s message is clear – either change the hateful bathroom law or “no championship games for you!”

“Last year, the NCAA Board of Governors relocated NCAA championships scheduled in North Carolina because of the cumulative impact HB2 had on local communities’ ability to assure a safe, healthy, discrimination free atmosphere for all those watching and participating in our events. Absent any change in the law, our position remains the same regarding hosting current or future events in the state. As the state knows, next week our various sports committees will begin making championships site selections for 2018-2022 based upon bids received from across the country. Once the sites are selected by the committee, those decisions are final and an announcement of all sites will be made on April 18.”