The NCAA has announced that it will hold no championship events in the state of North Carolina in 2016-17 as a response to the North Carolina laws that discriminate against LGBT individuals -- most notably the notorious law that requires trans people to use public bathrooms that match the anatomical sex assignment at birth.
The Chair of the NCAA Board of Governors released a statement saying: “This decision is consistent with the NCAA’s long-standing core values of inclusion, student-athlete well-being and creating a culture of fairness.”
North Carolina is a frequent site for major sports events, especially basketball. The state is often referred to as ground zero for college basketball." This decision will include first and second rounds of men's basketball tournament as well as women's soccer College Cup. The NBA had already announced that it would move its 2017 All Star game from Charlotte.
In addition, as many as five states have banned state employees traveling to North Carolina on official business. The state has lost millions of dollars in tourist spending, as well as investment and jobs from corporations who are shunning the state as a location or to expand existing sites. The national loss of prestige and shame brought upon the state is immeasurable.
But taking away their basketball big games -- that's a blow to state pride that really hurts in N.C. I know, having spent 7 years in school at Duke. There was nothing quite like Duke-UNC basketball rivalry in the 1950's -- and since. So this may have more impact than all the money from the other things they've lost over this bill.
Gov. Pat McCrory remains firmly committed to the law he signed, resisting calls for its repeal, even though it may cost him his re-election bid in November. His rival, current NC Attorney General Roy Cooper, is among those demanding repeal. In the RCP average of polls, Cooper is leading McCrory by 6% . . . before this latest NCAA blow.
Ralph
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