NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Friday
said that a North Carolina law that targets the LGBT community
remains “problematic' for the league.
“The law as it now stands in North
Carolina is problematic for the league,” Silver told reporters.
“We did discuss the North Carolina
statute at our owners meeting. There were no votes taken in the
room, but it was unanimous among our owners that we stand united
being against any form of discrimination for any group in our
society.”
Opponents of the law, which restricts
local LGBT protections and limits transgender people, including
students, from certain bathrooms in state-owned facilities, have
called on the NBA to move next year's All-Star Game out of Charlotte.
(Related: Charles
Barkley: NBA should move All-Star Game from Charlotte over anti-gay
bill.)
“There was no discussion of moving
the All-Star Game. What the view in the room was, we should be
working toward change in North Carolina,” Silver added.
Chad Griffin, president of the Human
Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest LGBT rights advocate,
applauded the NBA for taking a strong stand against the law.
“Today, the NBA reiterated its opposition to HB 2 and made
crystal clear this law threatens the 2017 All-Star Game in
Charlotte,” Griffin said in a statement. “We thank the NBA and
Commissioner Silver for standing strong in support for the equal
dignity of all North Carolinians and for continuing to advocate for
the repeal of this hateful and draconian law.”