NBA ditches all star game North Carolina over anti-gay laws :)

Haven't followed North Carolina much lately, other than noting the stubbornness of the state gov there. But this event latest happening is momentous in the extreme. North Carolina has lost the NBA all star game scheduled there over it's ridiculous bathroom laws that have demonised the LGBT community. The economic impact on the state is described as "dramatic".

Good on you NBA! Bloody good on you for taking such a stand!

They have stood up for inclusion and diversity. What a great story to come out of the US in the face of so much hatred and backlash against the LGBT over there of late.

The issue is centered on North Carolina’s House Bill 2, a law that mandates transgender people use public restrooms corresponding to the sex listed on their birth certificates. The law also omits LGBT people from North Carolina’s anti-discrimination protections, forbids local governments from widening LGBT protections and excludes all forms of workplace discrimination lawsuits from North Carolina state courts. 

“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 league said. “… We look forward to re-starting plans for our All-Star festivities in Charlotte for 2019 provided there is an appropriate resolution to this matter.” 

Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan had been counting on All-Star Weekend as a signature event for his franchise, and the economic impact of losing the All-Star Game for the franchise and region promises to be dramatic. Yahoo