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NFL Warns Texas There Could Be Consequences for ‘Bathroom Bill’

By Chris Deaton

Days after the Super Bowl in Houston, the NFL is warning Texas that legislation requiring individuals to use public bathrooms in accordance with their biological sex could cost the state future opportunities to host the big game.

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The Houston Chronicle reports:

“If a proposal that is discriminatory or inconsistent with our values were to become law (in Texas), that would certainly be a factor considered when thinking about awarding future events,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email response to a Chronicle question about the bill. It was the league’s first statement on the matter since the legislation was introduced in January. “The NFL embraces inclusiveness,” McCarthy added. “We want all fans to feel welcomed at our events, and NFL policies prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other improper standard.”

A similar measure, a so-called “bathroom bill” addressing transgender bathroom access, has created backlash from the sports and entertainment industry in North Carolina. Just this week, a marketing group there informed state legislators that the NCAA was prepared to reject all the state’s bids to host championship events in the next half decade. The association said in a statement that it had “not yet determined future championship sites,” although it already removed several such competitions from North Carolina for the 2016-17 season. Additionally, the NBA moved its all-star game this year from Charlotte to New Orleans.

Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick strongly backed his state’s legislation upon its introduction last month. The Texas Tribune reported more then:

Republican state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham, who will guide the bill through the upper chamber, said SB 6 would still allow for accommodations for transgender students, such as single-stall restrooms, on a case-by-case basis. But public entities that violate bathroom policies based on “biological sex” will be subject to a civil penalty imposed by the state attorney general. It also appears to essentially exempt convention centers, stadiums and entertainment venues. The legislation would not apply if “if the location owned by a government entity is privately leased to an outside entity,” which is often the case for those sort of venues, Kolkhorst said.

As an example, Houston’s NRG Stadium is owned by Harris County, and the City of Arlington owns AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The latter facility, opened in 2009, hosted Super Bowl 45 in 2011, giving Texas two of the last seven such contests.

The next four Super Bowls will be held in Minneapolis, Atlanta, Miami, and Los Angeles.

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