SALT LAKE CITY — With hosting duties for next year's NBA All-Star Game hanging in the balance, the Utah Jazz responded Friday to the legislature's veto override of the transgender sports bill.
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“The Utah Jazz oppose discriminatory legislation. We are committed to our values of inclusivity, mutual respect, and fair play. Beyond basketball, we hope for an equitable solution that shows love and compassion for all our youth,” the team said in a statement.
Utah lawmakers voted to override Gov. Spencer Cox veto of the bill banning transgender children from participating in school sports.
While the NBA has yet to comment on the vote, there is a concern that the league will pull the 2023 All-Star Game and surrounding events from Salt Lake City.
Earlier this week, a Jazz spokesperson told FOX 13 News that the team is "working with the NBA."
Although a decision may not be close, the NBA has responded in similar fashion in previous situations where lawmakers in states holding league events passed laws restricting the rights of citizens. The 2017 All-Star Game was taken away from Charlotte after the North Carolina General Assembly passed a law that required transgender people to use restrooms that matched the sex on their birth certificates.
The NBA pulled the All Star game from Charlotte after HB2 was passed. HB2 required transgender people to use bathrooms that corresponded with sex assigned at birth rather than gender identity.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) March 25, 2022
HB11 would ban trans girls from participating in high school girls sports. https://t.co/svZoUWEtPd
Utah Senate President Stuart Adams said any predictions of what the NBA may do are hypothetical, claiming 11 other states have similar laws and haven't had events pulled by the league. However, Sen. Curt Bramble (R-Provo) said any possibility the league would remove the game from Salt Lake City over the bill amounts to "financial threats."
Next year's All-Star Game is expected to pour millions into the northern Utah economy as thousands attend the multi-day event featuring the biggest names in professional basketball.
Real Salt Lake also responded to the veto override, saying in a statement:
“Real Salt Lake stands opposed to legislating discrimination. Our Club remains steadfastly committed to the “Soccer for ALL” tenets of inclusion, respect, and fair play. Beyond the field, we always strive for equitable solutions that demonstrate love and compassion for all, especially the youth in our community.”
