The NBA is close to moving its 2017 All-Star Weekend out of Charlotte because sufficient changes haven't been made to North Carolina's House Bill 2, according to NBA writer Adrian Wojnarowski, citing sources.
The league has said it views HB2 as discriminatory against the LGBT community. New Orleans is emerging as the forerunner to host the game, The Vertical's Wojnarowski said.
A source close to the situation told the Observer that the Charlotte Hornets have not been made aware of any decision yet.
N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory earlier this week signed limited changes to HB2, restoring the right to sue for discrimination in state court. Still intact is a provision that requires people in public schools and government facilities to use the bathroom that matches the gender on their birth certificates.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said at the conclusion of an owners meeting last week in Las Vegas that he was "disappointed" that state legislators didn't take additional steps toward modifying the legislation before adjourning.
"This is a very difficult issue for us, and we're trying to be extremely cautious and deliberate in how we go about making the decision," Silver said in Las Vegas.
Silver also said the "calendar" is not the league's friend in this matter and it would have to be resolved this summer.
HB2 mandates that transgender individuals must use the bathrooms in government buildings that correspond to the gender identity on their birth certificates. It was in reaction to a Charlotte city ordinance that allowed transgender individuals to choose the public restroom corresponding to their current gender identity.
The fate of HB2 could still be decided in court, potentially providing an out for the NBA to avoid moving All-Star Weekend.
Earlier this month, the Department of Justice asked a federal judge to suspend HB2 pending the outcome of a trial. U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder could order a hearing on the case by the end of August, if not sooner.
The All-Star Game was awarded to Charlotte last summer at a news conference that included Silver, Hornets owner Michael Jordan and McCrory. Ever since HB2 became law in March, the NBA and several major corporations have expressed concerns about creating a discriminatory atmosphere in the state that runs counter to the league's longstanding policies.
The All-Star Weekend would be the biggest event in Charlotte since the Democratic National Convention in 2012. Tourism officials in Charlotte estimated the event could generate as much as $100 million in economic impact.
This would be the first time Charlotte hosted All-Star Weekend since 1991, the only time the event previously was here. It's scheduled to be held Feb. 17 at Time Warner Cable Arena.
