With an NCAA deadline approaching, North Carolina’s House Bill 2 continues to remain a hot topic in the Tar Heel state.
UNC head coach Roy Williams took his Carolina men’s basketball team to Greenville, South Carolina, for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament last weekend. The games were set to be held in Greensboro but were removed over HB2, which advocates maintain is the worst piece of anti-LGBT legislation in the nation.
But Williams said concern over the law should extend well beyond sports.
“It shouldn’t just be about athletic events,” Williams said. “That’s the most important thing. It should be about what’s right and wrong and what we have now is wrong.”
Williams was speaking at a press conference Tuesday as the Tar Heels are preparing to take on Butler in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Memphis. While UNC escaped Greenville with two wins, Duke was not as lucky. The Blue Devils lost to the South Carolina Gamecocks, who were playing an NCAA Tournament game in their home state for the first time in decades. The NCAA had banned any events being held in South Carolina while the Confederate battle flag flew over the State House.
“Duke paid the price this weekend because they had a very significant road crowd down there,” Williams said. “But the biggest thing is, guys, it’s just not right.”
Williams went beyond HB2, saying he felt most of the political process was wrong now because of the political divide across the United States.
“We don’t have any cooperation,” Williams said. “We have people on one side that are Republican, the other side that are Democratic, and we have nobody being willing to compromise for what’s best.
“If you bring it up, well I’ve got to stick with you. If you bring it up, I’ve got to stick with you. I think that’s wrong, flat-out wrong.”
Democratic North Carolina Senator Joel Ford introduced a bill on Tuesday that would repeal House Bill 2. But Ford’s proposal also drew criticism because it would add in a moratorium – or “cooling-off period” – where local governments would not be able to extend nondiscrimination ordinances until 30 days after the adjournment of this legislative session.
The cooling-off period was first introduced by Republican Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger in a December special session of the General Assembly aimed at repealing House Bill 2. Berger introduced the moratorium as an amendment to a repeal and both measures failed in the Senate.
Ford tweeted on Tuesday that even though he is filing this bill including a cooling-off period, he would prefer a clean repeal.
There is no word yet if this new proposal will draw enough support to move before an upcoming NCAA deadline, which could exclude North Carolina from hosting any NCAA championship events over the next five years.
That deadline is believed to be by the end of March.
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Well then I expect the men’s and women’s basketball teams to share restrooms and showers
RW doesn’t even know what he is saying ..I respect him as a coach ..but am losing respect for him as a man
Blake I appreciate your article; however, Roy Williams (who I like) is making hypocritical statements. Not more than a week or so ago, someone from the media ask Ol’ Roy, Coach when Duke was making their run (ACC semi-final), what was your reasoning for not calling a time out? “I’ve done it that way for 29 years and I’m still 5’10” and that hasn’t changed, and I will call time-outs when the hell I want to”. Not verbatim but close enough. That is his philosophy whether people believe in it or NOT. You see, my philosophy is this, I have believed for 45 years that it is not okay for little boys to pee with little girls and vice versa. I have believed that it is not okay for little boys to change in front of little girls and vice versa. I am 5’9″ and that ain’t changing either. Roy doesn’t like it when people question his philosophy, and quite frankly, he becomes arrogant (I’ve been on the bench for 1,000 games and you have not so I could care less about what the media and fans think). What makes it right for him to question what I, and millions of North Carolinians, believe? Your thoughts or comments are appreciated.
Coach Williams should shut up and coach. Learn when to call time outs.
Last time I checked Williams is the highest paid state of NC employee.
One thing he had correct, it is about what’s right or wrong, not PC. Coach Williams, I believe has a wife and a daughter, does he really want a man in the same rest room as them or would he rather have a close to home game for UNC. Sounds like his basketball team is more important to him. Now that’s WRONG !
Wow, I’m amazed at how many people actually think that a repeal of HB2 would lead to some sort of bedlam where boys and girls would just start exposing themselves to each other in bath/locker rooms. People mention the idea that it shouldn’t be repealed due to the fact that it’s natural to not want a ‘change’ from tradition. The fact is that there weren’t any issues before the law was passed, so why is it so hard to believe that going back to the way it was before the law would be so bad? And if your town wants to pass their own law on the issue in the future, by all means go and vote on it. Look, I get it, I realize that exactly every single person who has commented before me has had practically zero exposure to an actual transgender person (outside of the ‘tranny’ stereotype). You likely know one of these people already, and you just never realized it. Being able to simply fit in and live a normal life for this extremely small portion of the population (who, surprise, was probably already using whichever restroom best fit their identity/appearance) is the only thing this silly law prevents. This is such petty legislation based on ignorance, disguised as ‘protection’, when in reality it blatantly harms a very specific group of people. This is typical of the current national politics of playing to people’s fears and a lowest common denominator form of tribalism. I knew there was a reason I left NC. Keep it up folks, people will be happy to take their business elsewhere while your unfortunately misplaced pride and fear keeps discriminatory laws like this on the books. I’m sure you think it’s worth it. It’s a shame, since it’s such a great state in many other ways.
AI, while I can respect your opinion, I also have to disagree with a few points.
First, the state of NC passed this law to counter an ordinance from the city of Charlotte. Just think about how difficult it would be if each city or town in NC passed their own ordinance governing this issue. No matter your identity, you would never know what law applied to you in that area. The state passed this law to allow uniformity across county lines and into municipalities. Until Charlotte passed the ordinance, there was never a need to address the issue and transgender people used what ever restroom they felt comfortable going to. However, your progressive thinking is not going to change my deeply held beliefs, and quite franky, I could care less about the opinion from someone outside of this state. In addition, the only money it has cost anybody is from the entertainment industry (singers, athletic events that were planned). Businesses who have refused to move to NC or bring jobs don’t count towards income until they are here. It is their prerogative not to come even though the law does not apply to them privately; however, there are other businesses that are moving here or will move here that have no objection to the law. Just like the stock market, a short term loss doesn’t necessarily mean that NC won’t experience long term gains.
Have a LOT of respect for Coach Williams….as a Coach. However, he seems to be oblivious to the fact that 70% of NC Citizens are IN FAVOR of HB2. Interestingly enough, there is a mega percentage of them that are FEMALES. Wonder if he checked with Wanda and his family on this?
What he should be commenting on is how the NCAA is actually “Blackmailing” states over some “perceived” PC situation. When the NCAA threatens Texas if THEY dare pass a law, that is out and out “political action”. Wonder if Texas (or the DOJ) will start to investigate the “Tax Free” status of a PAC?
Houston REPEALED the SAME law that Charlotte passed. Wonder if Coach knows this?
Coach Williams is beginning to look like Dustin Hoffman’s Autistic character in “Running Man”. He can count cards (coach basketball) but is not prepared to exist in society.
Maybe Coach Williams plans on retiring and running for elected office?