NBA threat on All-Star Game raises concerns in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WNCN) – A Charlotte ordinance on transgender people and bathrooms has been overruled by the North Carolina General Assembly – and the state’s decision could have implications on whether Charlotte gets the NBA All-Star Game.
The 2017 All-Star Game is scheduled to be in Charlotte. The city also hosted the All-Star Game in 1991.
The NBA issued a statement Thursday that raised questions about the game.
“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.
That comment is taken seriously in Charlotte, a town that takes an immense amount of pride in its professional sports teams.
“It would be a bad hit for the city of Charlotte if the All-Star Game does not come to Charlotte,” said John Autry, a Charlotte City Council member who voted for the city ordinance. “But I think the ramifications across the state of North Carolina and the message that sends to businesses and other sporting opportunities that we may have is not good either.”
This week, the General Assembly passed a statewide non-discrimination policy and local ordinances cannot go any further than what is in the state policy.
Some top business leaders, including the CEO of Raleigh-based Red Hat, raised concerns about the legislation.
LGBT groups are talking about lawsuits, as there is no mention of sexual orientation in the policy.But others believe the bill is good for the state, and that corporations shouldn’t be making threats on matters of public policy.
But others believe the bill is good for the state, and that corporations shouldn’t be making threats on matters of public policy.”This is the corporate bullying that went on in Indiana and Louisiana and Arkansas and it didn’t work in any of those states and it won’t work in North Carolina,” said Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the Raleigh-based North Carolina Values Coalition. “Corporations cannot come into North Carolina and tell the majority of people here who support a law like House Bill 2 what to think and what to do.”
“This is the corporate bullying that went on in Indiana and Louisiana and Arkansas and it didn’t work in any of those states and it won’t work in North Carolina,” said Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the Raleigh-based North Carolina Values Coalition. ” Corporations cannot come into North Carolina and tell the majority of people here who support a law like House Bill 2 what to think and what to do.”CBS North Carolina reporter Beau Minnick contributed to this report.