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Steph Curry took a few shots last week when he didn’t unequivocally repudiate a new law in his home state widely criticized for being discriminatory, if not downright hateful.
So the Warriors star on Monday clarified his stance on the North Carolina law that demands transgender individuals to operate in bath facilities that match the sex as noted on their birth certificate. The law essentially strips members of the LGBT community of specific civil protections.
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Curry, who grew up in North Carolina, and whose parents still live there, initially with tepid disappointment. A man of deep faith, he readdressed the “bathroom bill” Monday with the Bay Area News Group.
“I knew I would be asked about my views on the situation in North Carolina and potential ramifications on next year’s All-Star Game in Charlotte, which I hope can be resolved,” Curry told columnist Marcus Thompson II. “While I don’t know enough about the North Carolina law to comment more fully, no one should be discriminated against.”
This stands in contrast to Curry’s initial response, delivered on March 25:
“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."
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Curry doesn’t often express political views, nor does he routinely cite scripture. But his actions suggest that he is willing to vocalize his beliefs – without a megaphone.
In this instance, Curry is lining up with many others condemning a bill that allows cities to develop discrimination policies based on gender identity.
Numerous businesses, including the NBA, immediately expressed their disappointment with the North Carolina law, indicating that such a stance could jeopardize their endeavors within the state.
The NBA threatened to pull out of 2017 All-Star Weekend, slated for Charlotte. And PayPal on Tuesday, citing the bill, actually opted out of an agreement to expand a facility that reportedly would have employed 400 people.