• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

NBA 2017 All-Star Game moving to New Orleans due to NC's anti-LGBT bill

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

Cheddahz

Banned
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...y-jeopardize-2017-nba-all-star-game/82234488/

The NBA on Thursday expressed concern about North Carolina House Bill 2, which essentially bans local municipalities from enacting non-discriminatory ordinances designed to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

"The NBA is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all who attend our games and events," the league said in a statement. "We are deeply concerned that this discriminatory law runs counter to our guiding principles of equality and mutual respect and do not yet know what impact it will have on our ability to successfully host the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte."

The North Carolina Assembly passed the bill on Wednesday, and Gov. Pat McCrory signed the bill into law.

February that prevents a "business that provides a public accommodation from discriminating against a patron or customer based on one or more of that person’s protected characteristics. Those protected characteristics are: race, color, religion, sex, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, and national origin," according to the city of Charlotte.

"Specifically, a business is not permitted to deny any person the full and equal enjoyment of the business’s goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations on the basis of any protected characteristic. A business is not permitted to exclude, refuse to provide services, offer lesser services, or disadvantage a person because of any of the characteristics protected by the ordinance."

That ordinance was overturned by House Bill 2, and according The Charlotte Observer, the protected classes recognized by the state are race, color, national origin and biological sex. The Observer reported that there are now no legal protections for gays and lesbians in North Carolina.
Click to expand...
 
P

phanphare

Banned
I love adam silver for this but I'm a little bit conflicted. full disclosure I'm a NC and Charlotte native. so on the one hand businesses threatening to leave NC because of this bullshit is awesome. for too long our state government has overshadowed our entire state and essentially ruined what used to be a shining beacon of a state in the south. if moves like this force their hand then bring it on.

on the other hand Charlotte was the city to pass the actual LGBT law that the state then pissed all over. so moving the game away most hurts the city that was actually trying to move forward.

either way I love that NC is taking a ton of well-deserved heat for this. it's a bunch of bullshit.
 
C

Cheddahz

Banned
phanphare said:
I love adam silver for this but I'm a little bit conflicted. full disclosure I'm a NC and Charlotte native. so on the one hand businesses threatening to leave NC because of this bullshit is awesome. for too long our state government has overshadowed our entire state and essentially ruined what used to be a shining beacon of a state in the south. if moves like this force their hand then bring it on.

on the other hand Charlotte was the city to pass the actual LGBT law that the state then pissed all over. so moving the game away most hurts the city that was actually trying to move forward.

either way I love that NC is taking a ton of well-deserved heat for this. it's a bunch of bullshit.
Click to expand...
For my own personal reasons, I am conflicted about this as well (I am a Hornets season ticket holder and regularly go to games), but I feel like this is for the best and I support the NBA's stand on the whole matter.

The fact the state went out of their way to make sure a law a city passed never went into effect is just sad and I won't stand by that whatsoever
 
P

phanphare

Banned
Cheddahz said:
For my own personal reasons, I am conflicted about this as well (I am a Hornets season ticket holder and regularly go to games), but I feel like this is for the best and I support the NBA's stand on the whole matter.

The fact the state went out of their way to make sure a law a city passed never went into effect is just sad and I won't stand by that whatsoever
Click to expand...

yeah it's fucked and I totally support the NBA here if they were to decide to move it elsewhere. the more kicks to the nuts NC takes on this the better. I guess I was just pointing out that the most harm from this move would be felt in the city that was actually trying to do good.
 
C

Cheddahz

Banned
phanphare said:
yeah it's fucked and I totally support the NBA here if they were to decide to move it elsewhere. the more kicks to the nuts NC takes on this the better. I guess I was just pointing out that the most harm from this move would be felt in the city that was actually trying to do good.
Click to expand...

You're right. It's a shame that the city that wanted to protect the rights is the one being punished for this, but sometimes, you have to protest in the biggest way you can and I feel like this is it
 
L

LudicrousSpeed

Member
I mentioned this over in the thread about the bill, but one of the big reasons the NBA has to really consider moving the game is because of the Bobcats' arena.

Since Time Warner Cable Arena is owned by the city of Charlotte, that makes it very likely that the anti-trans bathroom requirements apply to that arena. The state of NC has effectively just hung a "No Trans People Welcome" sign on the site of the game, since there's a real potential of things getting ugly if a trans person goes to the game, has a beer or two, and then finds themselves in a situation where they need to pee. The NBA and leagues like this have to worry enough about how people who come in for their event are treated in the host city, so the potential that the actual venue in which the event itself is being hosted could cause problems is something they're definitely going to need to weigh.
 
A

A Link to the Past

Banned
phanphare said:
I love adam silver for this but I'm a little bit conflicted. full disclosure I'm a NC and Charlotte native. so on the one hand businesses threatening to leave NC because of this bullshit is awesome. for too long our state government has overshadowed our entire state and essentially ruined what used to be a shining beacon of a state in the south. if moves like this force their hand then bring it on.

on the other hand Charlotte was the city to pass the actual LGBT law that the state then pissed all over. so moving the game away most hurts the city that was actually trying to move forward.

either way I love that NC is taking a ton of well-deserved heat for this. it's a bunch of bullshit.
Click to expand...

I think it's worth screwing Charlotte if it screws NC. If the boycott works, Charlotte won't be screwed anyway.
 
M

M-PG71C

Member
I've got friends in Charlotte and the Triangle that are going to do everything possible to swing this state blue come this fall to get rid of these motherfuckers that are ruining my state. NC is home to me and one day, my wife and I will return. It is going to be up to the people of the state to provide pressure and vote this fall.

I have the highest confidence that the people will prevail here.
 
A

aspiegamer

Member
Random Painted HIghway said:
good, but where are these guys before these bills are actually voted on/signed?
Click to expand...
This law was passed on extremely, extremely short notice as an "emergency" bill. The entire process from proposal in committee to passage and signing was less than 1 day (on Wednesday) and received a total of 3 hours of debate. Even the media had almost no idea what was going on until it was already over.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/po...mns-blogs/under-the-dome/article67731847.html

It's the law in Georgia that's been sitting around for awhile with the many corporate threats.
 
M

manzoman96

Member
BronsonLee said:
Like Pennsylvania!
Click to expand...

cry1.gif
 
S

Stumpokapow

listen to the mad man
entremet said:
Probably logistically issues to resolve first--contracts, etc.
Click to expand...

I have no doubt, which is why issuing a definitive statement that you might move is so silly. If you're moving, put out a statement that says "As we made clear before the bill was signed, we will not be able to host 2017's All-Star Game in North Carolina on account of this bill. We are currently resolving outstanding logistical issues related to moving the game and will issue a statement later with further details. We apologize to the vendors and fans affected by this move and those hurt by this unnecessary and divisive legislation." or whatever. Or just say "We will not be issuing a comment while we evaluate the situation."

The statement as-worded sounds like grandstanding to win points off of demonstrating their values, without the follow-through necessary to punish those responsible.
 
I

injurai

Banned
I love how capitalism is deciding what's right outside of the law.

Hopefully it will light a fire under the collective conservative ass.
 
C

CastleRybread

Member
This is the same league that suspended rondo a single game for calling a gay man a faggot. Basically outed the referee because of his actions.

They need to worry about how they treat their own employees and issues in the workforce first before they get all high and mighty.

I disagree with the law and what the Republicans are doing, but when you advocate for social justice and have very little history of actually advancing causes I am skeptical.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

The Virtues of Ancient Rome
45
2K
Liljagare replied
Playstation is Hiring a New Director, HR Mergers and Acquisitions
News Platform
30
12K
Bo_Hazem replied
Charlotte to host the 2019 NBA All-Star Game following HB2 repeal
9
2K
shira replied
  • Locked
NC Gov: Charlotte, repeal your Pro-LGBT ordiance and we'll see about HB2
2
60
8K
Randolph Freelander replied
  • Locked
NBA pulls 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte due to LGBT laws
2 3 4
174
14K
Monocle replied
Top Bottom