Charles Barkley makes a stand on newly passed law in NC against transgenders (Photo : Getty Images/Scott Halleran)
Many were not pleased when North Carolina passed a law that prohibits extension of civil rights protections to the LGBT community and one of them is NBA great, Charles Barkley.
The NBA Hall-of-Famer is livid with the new regulation and he wants the NBA to make a stand by moving the prestigious 2017 NBA All-Star game away from the state.
"As a black person, I'm against any form of discrimination, against whites, Hispanics, gays, lesbians, however you want to phrase it," Barkley said in an interview with CNN. "It's my job, with the position of power that I'm in and being able to be on television, I'm supposed to stand up for the people who can't stand up for themselves. So I think the NBA should move the All-Star Game from Charlotte."
The TV personality is very vocal when it comes to his social and cultural views. Last year, he also made a statement to move the NCAA Final Four event away from Indiana when the city passed the same law. For Barkley, discrimination is very unacceptable and big sporting events should not be rewarded to these states.
Now, it looks like the NBA is weighing its options and is said to be seriously considering moving the All-Star game. The NBA issued a press release stating that the league is motivated to holding events which welcomes everyone from all walks of life. Moreover, the league office is concerned with how they can stage a successful event in a city with discriminatory law/s. The law obliges transgendered people to use comfort rooms according to their gender of birth.
Meanwhile, league MVP Stephen Curry was asked for his stand regarding this matter. It is worth noting that North Carolina is Curry's hometown but he decided to stay neutral regarding the subject matter.
"I know the NBA has a stance on equality and incorporating all beliefs and people from all sorts of backgrounds," Curry told Mercury News. "It's interesting how that intersection is, with the state law and the NBA having an event there."
Here is an update regarding the recently passed law. Apparently, the LGBT community will not go down without a fight as they are planning to sue the state and file a lawsuit in the federal court.
