According to reports by ESPN, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has received a letter from six U.S. Senators, Republican and Democratic, calling on him to move the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte, North Carolina because of a law that limits protection for lesbians, gays and transgender people.
On April 12, senators Cory Booker (D) of New Jersey, Patty Murray (D) of Washington, Mark Kirk (R) of Illinois, Patrick Leahy (D) of Vermont, as well as Tammy Baldwin (D) of Wisconsin all signed a document that was penned by Jeff Merkley (D) of Oregon.
In the letter, senator Merkley states that,
“Discrimination has no place in modern America. The actions of the North Carolina state government in passing House Bill 2 (HB2), an anti-LGBT measure, are profoundly disappointing… We urge you to take a stand against this latest form of discrimination and move the 2017 NBA All-Star Game away from Charlotte, N.C.”
Earlier this month, the city of Atlanta asked the NBA to move the All-Star game to Atlanta because of the segregated nature of the recently passed law. In response to that claim, the league stated that they were hopeful a resolution could be reached.
The men and women on Capital Hill are not the only ones who have issue with this mandate. Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley as well as Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy recently spoke out about it, both charging that the NBA should not reward this level of exclusion.
Charlotte Hornets principle owner Michael Jordan has yet to make a statement in regards to this situation.