***UPDATE: The General Assembly passed a measure on Friday night to restore the right to sue in state court for discrimination. Prior to HB2, workers had three years to file a discrimination lawsuit in state court. Under the new provision, that time limit would be one year.***
It now appears as though no adjustments will be made to North Carolina’s controversial House Bill 2 before the General Assembly wraps up the short legislative session ahead of the July 4 holiday.
Meetings were held this week between the governor and members of each side of the political aisle after Charlotte TV station WBTV first reported draft revisions to HB2 were being discussed.
Advocates said the provisions were not a real fix for the legislation that requires transgender individuals to use the bathroom and changing facility that matches their birth certificate rather than their gender identity.
Republican Governor Pat McCrory signed the legislation in late March the same day the bill was introduced and pass through the General Assembly in a special session. McCrory called for changes to the portion of the bill that took away the right to sue for discrimination in state court, but it now appears even that provision will remain untouched.
The bill has caused some companies to rethink or completely back out of expansions in North Carolina.
But what has drawn the most attention is the possibility that the National Basketball Association may move the 2017 All-Star Game from the Tar Heel state.
The All-Star Game and the associated festivities are – as of right now – slated to take place in Charlotte in February 2017. But NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has been a vocal opponent of HB2 since it was signed into law and said that adjustments would need to be made for the game to be played in North Carolina.
While potential changes were being discussed, the NBA and Charlotte Hornets issued a joint statement saying the alterations would not go far enough to win the backing of the league.
“We have been engaged in dialogue with numerous groups at the city and state levels, but we do not endorse the version of the bill that we understand is currently before the legislature. We remain committed to our guiding principles of inclusion, mutual respect and equal protections for all. We continue to believe that constructive engagement with all sides is the right path forward. There has been no new decision made regarding the 2017 NBA All-Star Game.”
Silver previously said that the NBA would need to see substantive changes made to HB2 by the end of the summer to proceed with the game in Charlotte. NBA Analyst Charles Barkley said that he would consider boycotting the game if it were to be held in the Queen City.
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