NBA Pulls All-Star Game Out Of North Carolina

The NBA has pulled its 2017 All-Star game out of Charlotte, North Carolina in protest against the state’s recently passed “bathroom bill”. It is estimated that the withdrawal of the game will cost Charlotte and the state of North Carolina over $100 million in economic activity. And, just like those states that refuse to expand Medicaid which would help millions of Americans and not cost those states a dime, Republicans are once again prioritizing their culture war over the health and economic well-being of their own citizens. The pity is that the city of Charlotte will pay the biggest price for this decision, since it was their local ordinance that triggered the state’s bathroom bill to begin with. Over 200 business leaders have signed petition to repeal the law but Governor Pat McCrory is holding firm despite being in a neck-and-neck re-election race. This decision can not help his campaign in any way. Finally, it is especially refreshing to see major sports league actually step up to the plate and refuse to associate itself with this kind of discrimination in any way.