Bathroom law prompts NBA to pull All-Star Game from Charlotte
The NBA has cancelled plans to hold its 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte over a North Carolina state law decried as discriminatory against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
The NBA noted that it hopes to reschedule in North Carolina in 2019.
The NBA said it's pulling the week of events out of North Carolina to honor the league's values. "These include not only diversity, inclusion, fairness and respect for others but also the willingness to listen and consider opposing points of view," according to an NBA statement issued Thursday.
A law passed in March made North Carolina the first U.S. state to require transgender people to use restrooms in public buildings and schools that match the sex on their birth certificate rather than their gender identity.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has previously said the law is "inconsistent with the core values" of the NBA and that the All-Star Weekend could be relocated as a result.
Moving the event out of the state would follow similar moves by top entertainers that have cancelled shows in North Carolina, including Bruce Springsteen, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, Boston, Pearl Jam, Ringo Starr and the group Cirque du Soleil.
The NBA is focused on moving the midseason showcase to New Orleans but other cities are still trying to lure the game.
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said his city would gladly host the event. "New Orleans is a diverse, open and inviting city, and we pride ourselves on our ability to host major sports entertainment events," he said, in a statement.
The NBA aims to announce a new location for the 2017 event in the coming weeks.
Reuters contributed
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