NCAA Strips Championship Games From North Carolina in Response to McCrory’s Anti-LGBT Law HB2

Total of Seven Games Will Be Played Out of State, Likely Costing North Carolina Millions More

The National Collegiate Athletic Association announced Monday it is relocation over a dozen championship games from North Carolina, almost six months after Republican Governor Pat McCrory signed a wide-sweeping anti-LGBT bill into law. HB2 bans transgender people from using restrooms that correspond with their gender identity, and takes away from all local governments the right to legislate and regulate minimum wage laws, nondiscrimination laws, and public accommodation laws.

The NCAA’s Board of Governors made the decision “because of the cumulative action taken by the state concerning civil rights protections.”

“Fairness is about more than the opportunity to participate in college sports, or even compete for championships,” Mark Emmert, president of the NCAA said, according to ABC News. “We believe in providing a safe and respectful environment at our events and are committed to providing the best experience possible for college athletes, fans and everyone taking part in our championships.”

Emmert specifically noted North Carolina’s state laws “invalidate any local law that treats sexual orientation as a protected class or has a purpose to prevent discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals.”

G.P. “Bud” Peterson, Board of Governors chair and Georgia Institute of Technology president said their decision is “consistent with the NCAA’s long-standing core values of inclusion, student-athlete well-being and creating a culture of fairness.”

Here’s the list of games that will be relocated:

• 2016 Division I Women’s Soccer Championship on Dec. 2 and 4

 

• 2016 Division III Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships on Dec. 2 and 4

 

• The first and second rounds of the 2017 Division I Men’s Basketball Championship on March 17 and 19

 

• 2017 Division I Women’s Golf Championships May 8 to May 10

 

• 2017 Division III Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships May 22 to May 27

 

• 2017 Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship on May 26 and 28

 

• 2017 Division II Baseball Championship May 27 to June 3

UPDATE:
The Human Rights Campaign weighs in:

“The NCAA just sent a clear message to North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and state lawmakers that it will not tolerate hateful laws targeting student athletes, fans, and employees,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Every day that HB2 remains on the books, countless people across North Carolina are at risk of real harm. NCAA President Mark Emmert has shown tremendous leadership by taking a bold stand for equality in the face of discrimination. It’s long past time state lawmakers repealed this vile law, and if they don’t, the majority of voters opposed to HB2 will ensure they pay the price in November.” 

 

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Image by bp6316 via Flickr and a CC license