July 21, 2016 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that it will relocate the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, which was originally scheduled to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina. The move is in response to the North Carolina House Bill 2 (HB2) that was passed earlier this year by the North Carolina General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Pat McCrory. HB2 not only makes it illegal for counties to pass LGBT non-discrimination legislation, it also prohibits transgender individuals from using public restrooms that correspond with their gender identity.
You Can Play applauds the NBA’s decision and the public commitment to the inclusion of the LGBT community. You Can Play also commends the other groups who continue to fight for LGBT rights, including the City of Charlotte, which passed LGBT non-discrimination measures just one month before the HB2 bill was signed into law. In addition, many of the collegiate athletic programs in North Carolina have expressed their opposition to HB2 including Duke University, led by basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Sports should be a place where all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression, are safe to be who they are. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with the NBA and its teams as we work to ensure the safety and inclusion of all in sports, including LGBT players, coaches, and fans.
