NBA Players React on Pullout of 2017 NBA All-Star in North Carolina Due to HB2 Law – Social Media Comments
Host City Will Soon Be Announced
The National Basketball Association has announced that it will pull out the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte, North Carolina because of the city's controversial HB2 law.
The league mentioned in a statement Thursday that it was thinking of rescheduling the event in the city for the All-Stars in 2019 but did not do so because it did not believe that it could host the 2017 event. The NBA also said that it will announce a new venue in the following weeks. Cities that might be considered for the 2017 All-Stars are New Orleans, Chicago, New York and Brooklyn.
What Is the HB2 Law?
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The HB2 law bans transgender people from using restrooms that are in accordance with their gender identities. When the law was enacted in a special session last March, a firestorm of negative comments and criticisms came from business owners, performers, artists and sports organizations that have supported North Carolina's economy throughout the years.
The National Basketball Association is a frontrunner in LGBT rights and in a statement, it announced that it understands that the league cannot choose the law in every city or state and was displeased about the effects of HB2.
NBA Players React through Social Media
One of the most vocal about HB2 is league MVP Stephen Curry who is a Charlotte native. Curry's father even played for the Hornets. Curry agreed with the league decision and was quite disappointed that Charlotte won't be able to host the All-Stars. He said in an interview on ESPN: "I know how much that would have meant to the city… at the end of the day, I love Charlotte."
Retired NBA player Jason Collins was the first publicly gay athlete to play for a major US league came out in 2013. "As a member of the NBA family and as a gay man, I'm extremely proud to see the NBA take initiative and move the All-Star Game from North Carolina," he tweeted.
Failed Attempts
For months now, the NBA and the Charlotte Hornets have been talking it out with North Carolina lawmakers, local business leaders, the governor's office and Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts to try to make a few changes to the controversial law to be able to meet halfway. Still no changes to the law were seen in June and lawmakers mentioned concerns that many transgender from other states don't allow changes to birth certificates.
On the other hand, LGBT groups praised the NBA's decision. The groups mentioned that this was clear that the league won't tolerate the discriminatory rule. Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin mentioned: "Every day that HB2 remains on the books, people across North Carolina are at risk of real harm. We appreciate the leadership of the NBA in standing up for equality and call once again on lawmakers to repeal this vile HB2 law."
