NCAA Pulls Championship Games from NC Over Bathroom Bill

The first and second-round games of the Division I men's basketball tournament will not be played at the Greensboro Coliseum in 2017, the NCAA announced Monday. 

Their decision is based on "the cumulative actions taken by the state concerning civil rights protections." 

The statement does not include the term House Bill 2, but it does state that North Carolina "has the only statewide law that makes it unlawful to use a restroom different from the gender on one's birth certificate, regardless of gender identity."

The statement also says that the North Carolina law "provides legal protections for government officials to refuse services to the LGBT community."

"The Board of Governors emphasized that NCAA championships and events must promote an inclusive atmosphere for all college athletes, coaches, administrators and fans. Current North Carolina state laws make it challenging to guarantee that host communities can help deliver on that commitment if NCAA events remained in the state," the statement said. 

Collegiate teams in North Carolina will still be allowed to play tournament games on their home campus if they qualify and whether or not their sport allows the arrangement. 

The move has provoked strong reactions from members of the Republican Party in North Carolina.

"This is so absurd it's almost comical," North Carolina Republican Party spokesperson Kami Mueller said in a statement Monday. "I genuinely look forward to the NCAA merging all men's and women's teams together as singular, unified, unisex teams."

"Under the NCAA's logic, colleges should make cheerleaders and football players share bathrooms, showers and hotel rooms. This decision is an assault to female athletes across the nation," Mueller continued. "If you are unwilling to have women's bathrooms and locker rooms, how do you have a women's team?"

"I wish the NCAA was this concerned about the women who were raped at Baylor," she charged. "Perhaps the NCAA should stop with their political peacocking — and instead focus their energies on making sure our nation's collegiate athletes are safe, both on and off the field."