The NBA has made a bold move in the fight for LGBT equality in the US.

The NBA has decided to move its 2017 All-Star game, which was supposed to take place in Charlotte, N.C., due to the state’s controversial HB2 law.

The NBA is as hopeful as all those opposing HB2 — a discriminatory bathroom law which requires people to use the bathroom of their determined sex at birth — that the law will be repealed soon. In a message to basketball fans everywhere, they said they retain “hope of rescheduling for 2019.”

“While we recognize that the NBA cannot choose the law in every city, state, and country in which we do business, we do not believe we can successfully host our All-Star festivities in Charlotte in the climate created by HB2," the statement continued.

Stephen Curry, point guard for the Golden State Warriors, who grew up in Charlotte, N.C., where the All-Star game was to take place, expressed disappointment yet respected the NBA’s decision.

New York Knick Carmelo Anthony followed suit:

“It’s a big decision for the NBA to pull it away from Charlotte. I guess we’ll see what happens from here now,” he said.

Read More: Pearl Jam cancels North Carolina show over anti-LGBT “bathroom law”

The NBA is not the first organization or group to pull out of an event in North Carolina.

Girls and women’s advocate and 2015 Global Citizen Festival artist Pearl Jam called HB2 a “despicable piece of legislation” in their letter explaining the band’s decision to cancel a planned show in the state.

The list of artists who have expressed concern for the discriminatory nature of the law, and cancelled shows goes on to include Bruce Springsteen, Maroon 5, Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato, and others.

Companies such as Paypal have chosen to relocate its offices. Major corporations that are opposed to HB2 include Microsoft, Apple, eBay, Intel, NIKE, and more than 60 others.

It’s a hard decision to make knowing how much fans care and will be upset. The decision however, hopefully acts as a catalyst for both residents of North Carolina, and around the world to press lawmakers to change this hateful legislation.

Let’s hope HB2 is off the books before 2019 while we cheer on the NBA for supporting LGBT rights, and opposing discriminatory law. 


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All-Star Decision by NBA for LGBT Equality

By Meghan Werft