Politicians react to NCAA decision to relocate championships over HB2

The NCAA announced yesterday the organization decided to pull seven 2016-17 championship events from North Carolina because of civil rights concerns over state laws.

Mike Meno, spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, said the NCAA decision proves HB2 is damaging North Carolina’s reputation.

“This is just the latest example of how HB2 is wreaking havoc on not only our state’s people, but our economy and reputation,” he said.

Kari Hudnell, a spokesperson for the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, said the NCAA’s decision aligns with the network’s recent policies.

“The NCAA has — at least in the last year — encouraged their member institutions to allow trans students to play on the teams they identify with, so this is in line with that view that they’ve already made clear,” she said.

Hudnell said it is unfortunate the NCAA decision will negatively impact the people of North Carolina.

“We do understand that there are those who are paying for a view that they don’t have, but it’s important that we make sure that these students are protected and have the same chance to do well in school as any other student,” Hudnell said.

Lt. Gov. Dan Forest said in a statement that the NCAA does not care about women and their safety.

“The NCAA’s action sends a message to every female athlete and female fan attending their events that their privacy and security in a bathroom, shower or locker room isn’t worth the price of a ticket to a ballgame,” he said.

Gov. Pat McCrory said in a statement that the issue of privacy will be resolved in the near future in the U.S. federal court system.

He said he hopes public and private institutions respect the judicial process and withhold political and economic threats to North Carolina and the other 21 states that are currently challenging the Obama administration’s interpretation of Title IX.

The U.S. Departments of Justice and Education have issued a guidance regarding Title IX, interpreting it to include gender identity in its protections against sex-based discrimination.

In August, a district court in Texas challenged this interpretation.

Hudnell said she hopes the courts will ultimately side with the Obama administration’s interpretation.

“The rulings that have gone against the administration’s interpretation haven’t really ruled on the merit of the guidance itself,” she said. “It’s really been more about procedural things.”

Meno said the ongoing HB2 lawsuit, which was jointly filed by the ACLU of North Carolina and Lambda Legal, will arrive in court in May.

“At that full trial, we will not only be asking the court to permanently block the anti-transgender bathrooms provisions of the law, but also the parts of the law that prevent local municipalities from enacting LGBTQ non-discrimination ordinances,” he said.

Hudnell said these decisions help raise awareness for the rights of transgender students and improve their experiences in schools.

“When students have supportive educators, that makes a difference in how they do in school,” she said. “It’s important for them to have those role models and people speaking up for them outside of school as well.”

@kentomcdonald

state@dailytarheel.com