The National Collegiate Athletic Association won’t move the 2016 Final Four out of Houston in response to last week’s repeal of a Houston ordinance that provided far-reaching nondiscrimination rights for gay and transgender people.
The Human Rights Campaign and other progressive groups have called for a full-scale economic boycott of the Texas city in response to the thumping defeat of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. (RELATED: Houston Voters CRUSHINGLY Reject Law Allowing Cross-Dressing Men To Use Women’s Bathrooms)
The law — Proposition 1 on the local ballot — would have extended bans on employment and housing discrimination based on race, religion, sex, national original and other classifications to gay people, bisexual people and transgender people.
Foes of the law focused like a laser beam on the transgender aspect of the law. They characterized it as the “bathroom ordinance,” saying it would allow men who wear women’s clothes — and sexual predators — to use public women’s bathrooms. They also said the ordinance would conflict with religious liberty and generate a raft of litigation against Houston’s small businesses. (Grievances to be turned into $5,000 fines against offending retailers.)
In a statement, the NCAA said it’s too late to relocate the 2016 Final Four, according to Inside Higher Ed.
“This vote, however, could impact the NCAA returning to Houston for a future Final Four,” the NCAA statement warned, according to Outsports, “the galactic leader in gay sports.”
“There are many factors in a thorough bid process that the NCAA considers when determining what cities will host the Final Four, including but not limited to local, city and state laws and ordinances,” the NCAA statement explained.
Outsports disagrees with the explanation that there is not enough time to put the 2016 Final Four somewhere else.
“If a hurricane hit Houston tomorrow and destroyed the venue, the NCAA could move the event,” Outsports argued. “They are choosing not to.”
A large majority of Houston’s voters — 61 percent — voted against the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.
Gay rights activists have also targeted the Super Bowl, which is scheduled to take place in Houston at the end of this season. (RELATED: Good News! LGBT Activists Want To Cancel The Super Bowl)
You can purchase tickets for the Final Four in Houston here. Ticket prices range from $364.50 to $49,504.50.
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