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Hornets issue anti-discrimination statement in wake of controversial law

Sam Sharpe / USA TODAY Sports

A day after the NBA said it was "deeply concerned" by the passage of a North Carolina law that critics say unfairly targets the LGBT community, the Charlotte Hornets issued a statement of their own in response on Friday.

North Carolina's House Bill 2, the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, was signed into law by Republican governor Pat McCrory on Wednesday after a rapid-fire special session. Its name specifically refers to a provision that bans individuals from using public bathrooms that don't match their biological sex.

The bill could also revoke nondiscrimination ordinances in 17 cities, including Charlotte, which passed an ordinance that allows transgender individuals to use the public bathrooms corresponding with the sex they identify as.

The Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act prohibits local governments from adopting or enforcing nondiscrimination policies on any basis not contained in the state's anti-discrimination laws. North Carolina bans discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, biological sex, or handicap, but not on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The NBA's statement on Thursday included a note that the league is not yet sure if the passing of House Bill 2 will impact Charlotte's ability to host the 2017 All-Star Game.

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