NBA’s reigning MVP Stephen Curry speaks out against North Carolina’s HB2
The NBA’s current reigning MVP (most valuable player), has spoken out against North Carolina’s anti-LGBT HB2.
The player, who is from Charlotte, North Carolina, has said he thinks the law is not “tolerable”.
Speaking to Bay Area News on Friday, Curry said: “I’ve already kind of explained kind of how I feel about discrimination period. I think that’s not tolerable. Nowhere.”
He added: “And it just sucks that it’s in my home state, where there are a lot of great people there.”
The NBA yesterday suggested it would keep its 2017 All Star game in Charlotte, despite calls to move it as a boycott of the state over the law, and saying that the organisation was “deeply concerned” about its impact on the event.
Curry said he does not support the event being moved, but instead said he hopes the law will be repealed by then.
He said: “The All-Star game hopefully being in Charlotte will be a huge thing for the city. I know the NBA will make the right decision when it comes time after North Carolina hopefully handles it.”
The league previously said it was “deeply concerned” by North Carolina’s recently passed HB2, which rolled back pre-existing LGBT rights protections.
The NBA had previously hinted that it might move the game out of Charlotte, but has now said it would prefer to keep a “presence” in the state.
A fake news story briefly published by some news sources claimed that the NBA had given an ultimatum to North Carolina – to repeal the law or lose the All Star game.
But it was later clarified by the NBA that the quotes attributed to the league were fake.
Hundreds of business leaders have urged the repeal of North Carolina’s HB2, and multiple celebrities have pulled out of appearances, including Ringo Starr and, Bruce Springsteen.
Springsteen was even accused of using “bully tactics” for cancelling the concert by one of the state’s Representatives.
But dozens of celebrities and hundreds of fans came to the defence of Springsteen, commending him for taking a stand.
Others such as Mumford and Sons and Cyndi Lauper have said they will appear but that they will donate their profits to LGBT rights organisations.
Mississippi also faces similar threats as Bryan Adams and Sharon Stone have pulled out of appearances there.
