As Big-Time Sporting Events Go, So Must the HB2 Law

North Carolina has been under fire by the media and general public since March due to the Legislation’s controversial decision to pass the HB2 Law. Since its enactment, the LGBT Community has come together in protest of this decision. For those not completely familiar with this “restroom” Law, the following link will take you to it in its entirety.

The frustration of the LGBT Community has not gone unnoticed, gaining a fair amount of supporters in the last few months. One largely impactful supporter is the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver. Adam and the NBA sympathize with the LGBT Community’s frustration and to express that sympathy, chose to make a statement of their own; to remove the NBA All Star Game from Charlotte. Adam warned of this decision for months after the law was passed, but after no change was made by July, he declared that the event would be moved, citing an inability for the NBA to agree with North Carolina’s views. The full statement by the NBA was made public on their website soon thereafter.

Obviously, this decision surprised sports fans around the country, but especially in the city of Charlotte where locals had been looking forward to the event for some time. Charlotte Hornets Owner Michael Jordan spoke on the matter and expressed disappointment but an understanding in the choice that was made. He also portrayed hope for change in the Law that would bring the event back in the future.

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, a strong supporter of the HB2 Law he passed, didn’t remain silent on the NBA’s decision either. McCrory released a more frustrated statement backing the Law that was noted in a USA Today article written by Scott Gleeson.

The removal of the All Star Game acted as a bomb being dropped on the state of North Carolina, and as every bomb has its aftermath, so did this one. Just a few weeks ago, the NCAA decided that they did not see eye-to-eye with the Law, and therefore chose to remove Championship games played in the state of North Carolina, including the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA Tournament that were set to occur in Greensboro.

Then, the ACC chose to make a similar decision when the board members voted to remove the ACC Championship game from Charlotte. The Board Members and ACC Commissioner John Swofford both commented on this decision, and both sided with the NBA’s opinion, as seen in an article on CBS Sports.

Other notable individuals to voice their opinion of disapproval on the Law include Duke Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski and former NBA players Jason Collins, who is widely known as the NBA’s first openly-gay athlete, and Charles Barkley. 

As North Carolina attempts to move forward, the real question is what they will do next. Until this law is changed or removed, sporting events will continue to leave in search of less-judgmental locations. Big businesses, such as PayPal, have decided to stay away from the state, and other businesses here are petitioning to get the law removed. The economic impact of this law has been unbelievable, and will continue to get worse. The removal of the All Star game alone will cause Charlotte to miss out on around $100 million, as stated in the following Forbes article.

All sports fans, regardless of their opinion on the LGBT Community, need to make a stand and fight against this law. Without any change, this state may never see another big sporting event. The NBA has made the statement that the All Star event could return in 2019, but that won’t happen if we don’t act.

For all supporters of this law, how much money and business are you willing to see North Carolina loose before you realize enough is enough?

I think we’re already way past that point.