Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors grew up in Charlotte and he was asked his opinion of the NBA holding the 2017 All-Stare Game in the city in light of the passing of a strict anti-LGBT law in North Carolina. His response was pretty incoherent.
"I know the NBA has a stance on equality and incorporating all the beliefs and people from all sorts of backgrounds," Curry said Friday at the Warriors' shootaround.
"It's interesting how that intersection is with the state law and the NBA having an event there. Hopefully, the right things need to happen that the All-Star Game stays in Charlotte, because that would be huge for the city … just to show what Charlotte's all about, regardless of where you fall on that law. Hopefully they can figure it out and keep it there. I think it's really important for the city of Charlotte. I'm sure we can figure it out."
There is nothing "interesting" about the state law in regards to the All-Star Game. The NBA has already expressed its dismay over law and said it is considering what to do about the game. As tepid as the league's response has been, it's more forceful than Curry calling the situation "interesting."
Discrimination is not interesting. It's wrong. It's curious that Curry didn't state an opinion on the merits of the bill. I would hope he opposes the law, though Vocativ notes that the pastor of the Charlotte church where Curry has been a member is strongly anti-gay, so who knows. Maybe he thinks there is some middle ground on this issue; in reality, you're either for it or against it.
Saying he hopes the right things happen "regardless of where you fall on that law" shows that Curry doesn't know this issue has no compromise. The anti-LGBT bill was passed in 12 hours when North Carolina Republicans and the governor called a special session. There was no time for opposition to organize and no debate. It's now law.
The only recourse would be these same legislators repealing the law (that ain't happening) or the courts striking it down as unconstitutional (fingers crossed). Curry seems to think that if both sides got together they can "figure it out." But the people who pushed this bill through aren't interested in compromise or the views of others. They acted with stunning speed to nullify an LGBT rights ordinance that passed in Charlotte and to get the bill signed, sealed and delivered before protests could mount like what happened in Georgia.
There is no working it out in this case. If the bill stays in place, the NBA will have two choices: 1) stick with its expressed principles and move the game in protest or 2) keep the game in Charlotte and reward a state that discriminates. There is no third option.
I never expected Curry to necessarily have an opinion on this issue. He would have been better off saying he was not yet familiar enough with the law to have an informed opinion. Such a response would have been reasonable since the law was passed only two days before he was asked about it. Instead, what he said was pretty clueless.
