NBA Will Yank All-Star Game From Charlotte Over Anti-LGBT Law

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announces that Los Angeles will host the 2018 NBA All-Star game at Staples Center, in Los Angeles, Tuesday, March 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The NBA is pulling the 2017 NBA All-Star Game out of Charlotte, North Carolina because of the state’s anti-LGBT law, it announced Thursday.

The league had previously said it would consider moving the game if North Carolina did not address its “bathroom bill,” which, among other things, mandates that people use the public bathroom that corresponds to their birth sex. That prevents transgender individuals from using the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity.

The NBA released a statement saying it hopes to have the game in North Carolina in 2019, provided the state change its laws by then. It expressed disappointment that the laws have not changed in time for the game, but said it maintains a commitment to making games accessible to everyone.

“Our week-long schedule of All-Star events and activities is intended to be a global celebration of basketball, our league, and the values for which we stand, and to bring together all members of the NBA community — current and former players, league and team officials, business partners, and fans,” the statement reads. “While we recognize that the NBA cannot choose the law in every city, state, and country in which we do business, we do not believe we can successfully host our All-Star festivities in Charlotte in the climate created by HB2.”

The NBA is now “focused” on relocating the game to New Orleans, according to Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reported the news ahead of the official announcement. The NBA’s statement indicated that the league would announce a new location for the game in the coming weeks.

This post has been updated.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Wow, I didn’t think they’d actually do it… Good on the NBA. Who’s next?

  2. Trying to persuade dug-in bigots to do the right thing through positive means is a waste of energy.
    The only thing to do is to kick them in the nuts, as hard as possible, over and over and over. Good on the NBA for making this benighted governor and legislature feel pain. If nothing else, it makes an example for all to see.

  3. Except maybe because the Tarheels will blame this on Silver’s being a Dukie, otherwise I say Amen, Hallelujah, and may it start the redemption of NC from its recent (again) fall under the pall of dark side.

  4. Ditto. I’m a little sad that my expectations were ao low, and glad to be surprised for the better. If more businesses showed the occassional stint of social conscience, I think this country would be in a much better place.

  5. Don’t worry, bigots. You still have Chik Fil-A

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

60 more replies

Participants

Avatar for lestatdelc Avatar for mbodlomane Avatar for pluckyinky Avatar for charliee Avatar for robinoso1 Avatar for brooklyndweller Avatar for clemmers Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for jimtoday Avatar for yvonneofnc Avatar for ottnott Avatar for magical_panda Avatar for darcy Avatar for dickweed Avatar for pshah Avatar for jam_econo Avatar for beattycat Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for albesure Avatar for boisdevache Avatar for tigermac Avatar for cybermindgrrl Avatar for maximus Avatar for pike_bishop

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: