Former NBA star Charles Barkley on Friday called for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to yank its March Madness Final Four tournament out of Indiana over a new law that protects business owners from being required to serve same-sex couples because of religious objections.
“Discrimination in any form is unacceptable to me,” Barkley said in a statement released through his agent, as quoted by USA Today. “As long as anti-gay legislation exists in any state, I strongly believe big events such as the Final Four and Super Bowl should not be held in those states’ cities.”
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) signed the “religious freedom” bill into law Thursday.
The NCAA has said that it will go forward with plans to hold the Final Four in Indianapolis, although it is “especially concerned” about the possible effects of the law on its student-athletes and employees.
Wow. Good for Barkley!
Still wouldn’t vote for him.
He’s right, they should. But they’re not gonna, not in a million years. They don’t want to piss off their homophobic core support.
Way to go, Charles!
Yes!!!
Niemoller would be proud.
The NCAA makes it’s decisions by consulting Nancy Reagan’s astrologer.