ACLU Seeks Documents from Potential NCAA Host Sites in North Carolina Clarifying Protections for LGBT People

RALEIGH, N.C. — The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of North Carolina are seeking documents from cities and educational institutions throughout North Carolina to establish how those venues intend to guarantee a nondiscriminatory environment for LGBT people if they are chosen to host NCAA events.

The NCAA announced this week that they would consider venues in North Carolina for NCAA championship host sites in response to the passage of HB 142, even though the HB 2 replacement leaves LGBT people, particularly transgender people, subject to discrimination. It also said that potential host sites in North Carolina would be “required to submit additional documentation demonstrating how student-athletes and fans will be protected from discrimination.”

The ACLU’s public records requests were served late yesterday to Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Cary, and Greenville, as well as the following public universities:

• Appalachian State University
• East Carolina University
• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
• North Carolina Central University
• North Carolina State University
• University of North Carolina-Asheville
• University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• University of North Carolina-Charlotte
• University of North Carolina-Greensboro
• University of North Carolina-Wilmington
• Western Carolina University

The ACLU is requesting all information pertaining to potential applications for consideration to host NCAA championship events.

“We’re filing these public records requests because the LGBT community deserves clarity on how these sites can guarantee a nondiscriminatory environment in light of the passage of HB 142,” said James Esseks, director of the ACLU’s LGBT & HIV Project. “Transparency is essential given that the backroom deals around HB 142 have only resulted in a status quo that continues to subject trans student-athletes, coaches, and fans to discrimination.”

Under HB 142, schools, state, or local government buildings throughout North Carolina cannot have policies giving transgender people access to the appropriate restrooms. Without such protections, transgender people cannot go to school, work, or attend sporting events and other public events.

ACLU of North Carolina Policy Director Sarah Gillooly said, “The NCAA must stand by its word and demand documentation of basic nondiscrimination policies and protections before further committing to any North Carolina sites.”

The public records request can be found here: http://acluofnorthcarolina.org/files/letters/ACLUrecordsrequest040717.pdf