Basketball analyst Charles Barkley is calling on the National Basketball Association to move the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte over North Carolina’s controversial House Bill 2.
Barkley, who has been a mainstay on Turner Sports’ Inside the NBA, spoke about HB2 while on the Dan Patrick Show.
“I’ve been trying to get the NBA to move the All-Star Game out of Charlotte because of the transgender thing,” Barkley told Patrick.
Barkley was referring to the portion of HB2 that requires transgender individuals to use the bathroom and changing facility that matches their birth certificate rather than their gender identity. The law also sets a statewide nondiscrimination policy and repeals any local ordinances that go beyond what the state has put in place – which does not include protections of sexual orientation, gender identity or veterans.
Another provision removes the ability to sue in state court over discrimination; Governor Pat McCrory has asked the legislature repeatedly to remove this portion of the law, but the General Assembly has not brought up any discussion to change any portion of HB2 during the short legislative session.
Barkley said he would consider boycotting the All-Star Game if it is held in Charlotte under the current law.
“I’ve told my boss, ‘I don’t want to act like I’m jumping on a sword,’” Barkley said. “But I’ve talked to [NBA Commissioner] Adam Silver, we need to move the All-Star Game.”
Barkley added, “I hope they don’t put me in a situation where I have to boycott the All-Star Game; we need to move the All-Star Game.”
Silver said recently that the NBA would need to see definitive progress toward changing the law by the end of the summer to ensure the All-Star weekend remains in Charlotte, according to the Associated Press.
The state is locked in several legal battles over the legislation, including with the United States Department of Justice.
You can see the full interview with Barkley below:
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines