After North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory on Wednesday night signed a bill that prohibits cities from passing anti-discrimination measures, numerous companies with business in the state have expressed opposition to the bill and the NBA may consider re-locating its 2017 All-Star game.
State lawmakers passed the legislation during a special legislature session after Charlotte approved an ordinance aimed at protecting LGBT individuals in public places like schools.
The NBA on Thursday suggested that the league may move the 2017 All-Star game out of Charlotte in a statement.
“The NBA is dedicated to creating an inclusive enviornment for all who attend our games and events. 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 league said in a statement.
The NCAA also said it will monitor the law’s impact.
“We’ll continue to monitor current events, which include issues surrounding diversity, in all cities bidding on NCAA championships and events, as well as cities that have already been named as future host sites,” the NCAA said in a statement. “Our commitment to the fair treatment of all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, has not changed and is at the core of our NCAA values. It is our expectation that all people will be welcomed and treated with respect in cities that host our NCAA championships and events.”
Numerous businesses also expressed concern over the law on Thursday.
“We are disappointed by the passage of HB2 in the North Carolina General Assembly because this measure will reduce, rather than expand, the scope of anti-discrimination protection in the state,” IBM said in a statement. “IBM will continue to follow its global non-discrimination policies in the workplace, and believes that an inclusive and welcoming environment is the best way to attract talented individuals to our company.”
Inclusion is one of our core values and we are proud to champion LGBTQ equality in N. Carolina and around the world: https://t.co/40yYLCrqO1
— PayPal (@PayPal) March 24, 2016
Biogen opposes #NCGA attempt to undermine equality in NC via #HB2. We support advancing the power of difference https://t.co/RlxgLt3JBC
— Biogen (@biogen) March 23, 2016
We believe in equal rights and equal treatment for all. This North Carolina law is misguided & wrong. #WeAreNotThis pic.twitter.com/3yCayn7Tum
— Google (@google) March 24, 2016
Dow is disappointed in the signing of NC #HB2. We will continue to call for a comprehensive federal framework to ensure fairness for all.–KK
— Dow Public Policy (@DowPolicy) March 24, 2016
We have zero tolerance for discrimination. We say NO to #NCGA. We continue to support all of our employees & remain on the side of equality.
— Bayer US (@BayerUS) March 24, 2016
And statement I just got from a little Calif company called Apple reacting to NC bill #HB2. They’re also not pleased pic.twitter.com/8qVGc4iUqO
— Katie Peralta (@katieperalta) March 24, 2016
The CEO of Salesforce, Marc Benioff, who pushed back against Indiana’s anti-gay bill last year, told the Huffington Post that he is urging the Bank of America, which is based in Charlotte, to publicly oppose the law.
Teh gay. It’ll get you every time.
All of these announcements from the large multi-nation companies are nice, actually great – but they mean nothing if you don’t put your money where your mouth is. Take action.
Either NC will retract this legislation, or the Courts will do it for them.
The NFL made it very plain to Jan Brewer that Arizona would lose their previously awarded Super Bowl host gig if she signed their version of a LGBT hate law. She vetoed it. I’m hopeful should Nathan Deal sign the similar Georgia law the same will happen to Atlanta’s event. They just built a new stadium and it’s become somewhat of a ritual to feature these gleaming billion dollar venues at the first open opportunity to do so. Losing a Super Bowl hits a state and city where it counts, in the wallet. Toss in the lost lingering prestige hosting it bestows, and the shame and scorn at being pig-headed enough to lose it, and you have a state ripe for political recriminations. You’ve maybe even pissed off enough people to flip a legislature or governorship.
We can also vote with our dollars and hit them where it hurts:
When we travel in the states, we try hard and avoid staying in states that discriminate against minorities and that rule over women and their bodies: North Carolina and Indiana are 2 of the top states that we avoid. We also don’t buy product over the web that come from companies in these states…we will stop buying from Soccer.com as one example because they are based in NC.
Clearly these states with Republican Governors are taking their orders from the Nazi Koch Brothers…they have a well organized strategy to divide the populous and to cause us to hate each other. If the populous ever becomes a homogeneous group in the US, the Koch’s and Buffet and the other robber barons will finally be put in their proper place just like we did to the robber barons in the gilded age.