New NCAA Non-Discrimination Policy Could Threaten Georgia Venues
The National Collegiate Athletic Association today announced that sites wanting to host NCAA events, from Men’s basketball to Women’s Gymnastics and more, must certify that their facilities do not discriminate with respect to sexual orientation or gender identity. The new policy not only affects the physical site of the event, but locations such as hotels, restaurants, etc. that will accommodate or participate in the event. From the questionnaire that prospective hosts will need to complete:
The board’s decision follows the recent actions of legislatures in several states, which have passed laws allowing residents to refuse to provide services to some people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. While proponents of the laws focus on how they protect religious beliefs, critics have voiced concerns that they create an environment of sanctioned discrimination.
The board’s decision reaffirms the NCAA’s commitment to operate championships and events that promote an inclusive atmosphere in which student-athletes participate, coaches and administrators lead and fans engage.
Sample questions include, “Has your city, county/parish, and/or state passed anti-discrimination laws that are applicable to all persons?,” “Does your city, county/parish and/or state regulate choice of bathrooms or locker rooms that may affect student-athletes, coaches, administrators, or game officials during the Event?,” and “Does your city, county/parish and/or state have provisions that allow for refusal of accommodations or service to any person?”
We asked former GeorgiaPol contributor Anthony M. Kreis what would happen here in the Peach State. His opinion that an event at the Georgia Dome, which has hosted Men’s championship events would pass muster because of Atlanta’s local anti-discrimination ordinance. A proposed event that would beheld in Cobb county, which does not have a local ordinance, would not.
Today’s announcement comes day after the National Basketball Association decided not to hold its 2017 All-Star game in North Carolina because of that state’s law, known as House Bill 2, dictating bathroom policy for transgendered individuals and trumping local anti-discrimination policies.
How this might affect the ongoing debates over proposed religious liberty laws in Georgia remains to be seen. However, it appears that, at at least in the world of sports, hypothetical threats to leave because of laws affecting civil rights are now actual ones.
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Jon Richards
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Let’s add this to the ever-growing list of reasons why we need a fully inclusive, state-wide non-discrimination law.
Heh. Probably the quickest way to get North Carolina to change their tune is to make UNC have to travel out of state for the first few rounds of the tournament.
What’s the problem ? Merging the sports might save a lot of money from those gender divisions.
Transgender curling?
Oh the possibilities!
The linked NCAA questionnaire refers to “Men’s and Women’s Final Four…” Seems a bit hypocritical for the NCAA to have a Men’s bball tournament and preclude a female that identifies as a male from playing on an NCAA team.
I believe there’s a transgender male competing in D1 swimming/diving for Harvard.
comment with cnn link, spam ?
A PC ruse for the NBA as they will hold exhibition games in China despite legislators concerns over human rights. Specifically China’s forced organ harvesting from executed prisoners and thousands of Falun Gong practitioners.
Political correctness run amok…reminds me of an article in the BGEA (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association) a few years ago, “America on the Road to Destruction”…as in further trashing of traditional values in this country. No doubt we’ll see more of that with a President Hillary…
I’ve never understood this argument. You want to be able to have an opinion but you get upset when people/organizations react negatively to it? Shouldn’t the “Anti-PC”/”Pro-Liberty” crowd be happy whenever any opinion is shared?
Its not the opinion anyone objects too, it is the forced action.
So you’re willing to tolerate blacks (and other minorities) being discriminated against based only on the color of their skin?
Are you serious?
I am serious that anyone can have an opinion and I personally don’t find the thought offensive. It is the act that I sometimes find offensive. I find the NCAA vetting hosts while not following the same gender identification allowance for men and women events to be offensive.
I am also serious your interjection of ethnicity into the subject is illogical.
Yeah you’re right, we should probably still have separate facilities for blacks.
(sarcasm, of course)
Maybe they pulled it out upon learning Charlotte is the home of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.. and Franklin Graham, in place of his very aged father, has been a vocal critic of the decline of values in this country. The late Jesse Helms, asked years ago about a proposal to build a state zoo, stated that all you needed to do is build a fence around Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina), in Orange County, reportedly the only county in North Carolina to back McGovern over Nixon in 1972. Doubtless if Helms were alive today, he would add Charlotte to the list…..
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled against Gloucester County School Board (Virginia), and then SCOTUS refusing to hear an appeal made transgender requirements part of Title XI. North Carolina is suing the DOJ for enforcing the fourth circuit ruling over their own state law. They pulled it because the NCAA is required to follow Title XI requirements.