Politics aside, how does HB2 or it's lack thereof, have an impact on the community's ability to "ensure a safe, healthy, discrimination free atmosphere"
The NCAA is saying that there is an impact on the game which creates the lack of a safe, healthy, and discrimination-free atmosphere. Really? How? Why do they lie like that? Why not tell the truth? Which is that they have made a political decision.
Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled with anything that takes away the game from Carolina. I hate how Carolina-centric the ACC is, so I'm ecstatic about this, especially if it comes back to Florida which I think it will. It makes the most sense.
My point is whatever side you fall on this law, this is an effort to back a political stand and be politically correct. Just tell the truth. For political reasons you don't want to have the game in Carolina. But don't pretend like this law affects anybody's safety or enjoyment. It doesn't.
The law being on the books or not on the books makes absolutely no difference. It's up to that community to pass laws which they think benefit its citizens, and they should be free to do so. They can also create enough political groundswell to repeal the law. But the NCAA's actions are strictly political. But like I said before I'm thrilled that the game is out of Carolina.
HB2 is about more than just public bathrooms. In the context of employment discrimination, for instance, HB2 prevents municipalities and counties in North Carolina from expanding protections for LGBT individuals beyond those provided for by state law. This is important, as North Carolina (like many states) does not provide constitutional or statutory protections for individuals based on their sexual preference or gender identification.
Interestingly, the law also lowers the statute of limitations for any discrimination action premised on North Carolina's statutory scheme from three years to one year, thereby making it more difficult for
anyone (regardless of gender, sexual preference, race, religion, or national origin) to pursue their legal rights in the face of discriminatory conduct.
As far as safety, I would strongly argue that any society that makes the open practice of discrimination more acceptable is less safe. Likewise, I would imagine living in a society where you can be openly discriminated against for any reason can result in emotional or psychological distress, effectively diminishing that community's mental health.
The point regarding how communities pass laws they think benefit their citizens is particularly interesting in this instance, since that is exactly what HB2 prevents. Local communities within the state of North Carolina were expanding protections to various people (mostly, but not exclusively, in the LGBT community). The State of North Carolina apparently did not like that and moved to curtail the ability of those communities to continue doing so.
This article from the Charlotte Observer summarizes the effects of HB2 pretty well in case anyone is interested:
Understanding HB2: North Carolina?s newest law solidifies state?s role in defining discrimination | The Charlotte Observer
But either way, at least we can (most of us, I think) be thankful the game is out of North Carolina.
EDIT: Went to the next page and noticed OriginalCanes's point re: it being intellectually dishonest for the NCAA to claim this has any impact on the game. The community is impacted. Any impact on the game is obviously much more attenuated. Also, I recognize OriginalCane never mentioned the bathroom angle... I started with that because way too many of the posts did, and the law (as written) effects much more than that.