NCAA Punishes North Carolina for Law That Protects Women and Children

TUPELO, Miss.—The NCAA announced last night that it is pulling seven previously awarded championship tournament games from North Carolina because of HB2, the state law that requires men and women to use restrooms at schools and government buildings that correspond to the sex on their birth certificates.

American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net), which has been bringing awareness to restroom laws and policies that protect the public, namely through the highly successful #BoycottTarget initiative, released the following statement on the decision today.

“The NCAA is punishing North Carolina because of its state law that does not allow men into women’s restrooms, changing areas and showers on government property,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon. “By siding with the liberal elites on this issue, the NCAA is completely disregarding the safety and privacy of women and children. What has long been known as an apolitical  organization, the NCAA has decided to wade into the politics of North Carolina and punish the state for keeping vouyers and sexual predators out of women’s facilities.

“Additionally,” Wildmon continued, “the NCAA has chosen to lobby against a law that protects women and children. What is most ironic is that HB2 only applies to government property and would allow the NCAA to set its own standards, if it so chooses, to host events on private property. In this day and age when national institutions side with sexual predators and punish states over common sense laws, Americans must show support for North Carolina and other states that choose to protect women and children.”

After the NCAA announcement Monday evening, the North Carolina GOP also released a defiant statement through spokeswoman Kami Mueller: “This is so absurd it’s almost comical. 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. 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,” Mueller continued. “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.”

AFA added, “As the American Family Association has stated many times, we do not believe the transgender community poses a danger to the wider public. Rather, misguided and reckless policies that do not protect women and children—and the lack of laws that puts them in danger—provide a possible gateway for predators.”

For more information on American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or on Twitter @AmericanFamAssc.