Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD – the world’s LGBTQ media advocacy organization, released the following statement after the NCAA made the announcement to reinstate NCAA-related events, including basketball tournament games, in the state following the fake “repeal” of HB2, a last-minute maneuver that only further marginalizes and endangers the transgender community while also nixing any opportunity to add more protections for LGBTQ North Carolinians across the state.

“Add NCAA to the list of politicians and organizations who are willing to use HB2’s fake ‘repeal’ as an excuse to throw human rights to the sidelines. This ‘repeal’ doesn’t only harm  transgender people, but it also prevents LGBTQ non-discrimination ordinances from being approved in any North Carolina city for three years. The NCAA’s timeout on LGBTQ rights sends this message to its LGBTQ athletes: you are on your own.”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: LGBTQ PEOPLE, MEDIA HAVE SEEN THIS SO-CALLED “FIX” BEFORE

Mike Pence’s RFRA “Fix”

Mike Pence Signs RFRA “Fix” Even Though State Laws Do Not Protect LGBTQ Hoosiers from Discrimination. “The proposed new language — worked out during private, marathon negotiations on Wednesday between Republican legislative leaders, key business and sports officials and the governor’s staff — would alter the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or RFRA, to ensure it does not discriminate against gay and lesbian customers of Indiana businesses. But it stops short of providing statewide protections against discrimination of gay, lesbian and transgender people.” [IndyStar, 4.1.15]

RFRA’s “Fix” Didn’t Protect LGBTQ Hoosiers from Discrimination. “Threats from business leaders and financial institutions have caused the most worry at the Statehouse, ultimately spurring Republican leaders to reconsider a measure they never believed authorized discrimination… Statehouse Democrats continued to call for a repeal of the law and full statewide protections against discrimination of gays and lesbians. It was not clear Wednesday night if Democrats, who are vastly outnumbered in the Statehouse, would go along with the compromise or if their votes were needed.” [USA Today, 4.2.15]

###