Boom: NCAA says cities and states with anti-LGBT laws cannot host tournaments

[Recursion]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2016/04/28/ncaa_cities_and_states_that_discriminate_can_t_host_tournaments.html

In recent years, the NCAA has been a surprisingly effective force in fighting anti-LGBTQ discrimination. In 2015, when Indiana passed the anti-gay Religious Freedom Restoration Act, one of the factors that led to the state’s legislature enacting a quick (if inadequate) fix was a statement from the NCAA, which came a week before a huge sporting event was held in the state. It said: “We are … concerned about how this legislation could affect our student-athletes and employees." (The organization drew criticism when it did not move the 2016 men’s tournament from Houston after that city’s voters rejected a nondiscrimination law in November 2015, though it did warn the vote “could impact the NCAA returning to Houston for a future Final Four.”)

Now the NCAA has made its commitment to nondiscrimination even more explicit by setting new requirements for cities that wish to host NCAA events, including the men’s and women’s Final Four basketball tournaments, which draw thousands of visitors. At its quarterly meeting, held earlier this week, the NCAA Board of Governors adopted a policy that will require potential hosts “to demonstrate how they will provide an environment that is safe, healthy, and free of discrimination, plus safeguards the dignity of everyone involved in the event.”

As ThinkProgress noted, the new policy “could have a serious impact on North Carolina, which is scheduled to host NCAA tournament games in both 2017 and 2018” in light of that state’s recently enacted and controversial anti-LGBTQ law. HB2 nullified local LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances and forbids trans people from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity in any government building. Mississippi’s new LGBT segregation statute will also put that state out of contention for NCAA tournaments.

The NCAA already prohibits states that fly the Confederate battle flag from hosting “neutral-site championships” (that is to say, tournament championships), and it does not allow schools that use “abusive or offensive" Native American imagery or mascots to host.

[Lint Head]

1. Tennessee just past one.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/27/politics/tennessee-therapist-bill/

[Initech]

14. Those people should not be therapists then.

If their beliefs prevent them from doing the job, fuck 'em. They can go find another line of work.

[rpannier]

2. Ban Bowl Games from states and cities that have those laws

especially the National Championship semis and finals
That would be interesting

[msanthrope]

3. Money talks. nt

[Recursion]

4. Don't it, though? (nt)

[Augiedog]

5. congrats to forward thinking NCAA. This needs to be followed by NFL, MLB and all intellectually

honest and truly American institutions. These Bible Belt bullies need to be stopped in their (monetary) tracks. A harm to one is a harm to all in a democracy, and discriminatory legislation may be one of the greatest harms a politician can inflict on its constituency. Just look at what has happened in my state, Wisconsin. We are under attack by a Koch controlled evangelical ass of mythical proportions who thinks only old white people should be allowed to participate in self governance. Preferably old white men (oddly enough I fit that demographic, much to his dismay). Hope is on the horizon though, Walkers popularity in Wisconsin is crashing. The chickens are coming home to roost as people in small town Wisconsin realize the harm he has done to them, his greatest supporters.

[NewJeffCT]

6. good thing NCAA basketball tournaments

are not very popular in North Carolina...

[NoMoreRepugs]

7. have the top 100 High School minority athletes in all sports sign a pledge to

not commit to any school in a state that might restrict their parents from voting and u would change America in less than a week - I 100% guarantee it

[redstatebluegirl]

9. Great idea!

[matt819]

8. Okay, but

Another way of saying this is that the NCAA says that the athletes whose rights it abuses will not play in cities that abuse the rights of LGBT.

[Recursion]

10. Well, that's a separate issue

But a good point

[matt819]

11. Agreed

This was a good decision. And I'd like to see other sports leagues firmly state that they will do the same where there are discretionary decisions, like all-start games, off season activities, etc. I think it was MLB that said they would move the All-Star game if the law in NC remained in place. Not good enough. Pull the game now. No room for quibbling or making other excuses for not changing the location, etc.

Next, some enterprising reporter should examine the schedules for conferences and conventions in the offending states, and then put that informaiton out there so pressure can be brought on companies and industry groups to move these events. Nothing can be done in the short run, but there's no reason events that are 9 months or more in the future to change to other locations, or to at least try, or to make a statement, contributions, etc. to make the point that these discriminatory laws are wrong.

For the offending states/cities that have pro sports teams, they, their players, and the leagues should take some concerted action. It can get tricky here, since the odds are good that many of the team owners and players share these offending views. But the issue needs to be addressed.

[Mary Mac]

12. Charlotte has no control over the state.

I love the photo of Asheville cruising away from its state.

[awoke_in_2003]

15. If the people of Charlotte make enough noise they will. nt

[Initech]

13. Excellent!!!