NCAA takes a stance against HB2 (the bathroom bill). Here’s what we think.
Earlier this year North Carolina passed the HB2 a bill (also known as the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act), which makes it illegal to use a public restroom in North Carolina that does not correspond to your biological sex. As you probably know, this bill has caused an incredible amount of controversy and backlash. So much so, that the NCAA announced on Monday that it will be relocating seven of its championship events from the state of North Carolina because of its stance on the bill, which affects public school bathroom policies. The NBA also moved its All Star game for the same reason over the summer.
Like the NCAA, AAOA stands for equality of all individuals and as a result firmly support all federal laws that secure freedom and equality. We feel encouraged by the NCAA’s announcement that aims to protect equality. Here at AAOA we believe in supporting organizations. landlords, property managers, agents and brokers who strive to provide fair and equal housing opportunities for all people.
We’d like to remind you that AAOA members must treat tenants equally without differentiating among a person’s chosen gender or sex. As a landlord it is your duty to abide by federal Fair Housing principles regardless of state bills such as HB2. Specifically the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which all of our members must follow, states that there cannot be any housing discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability.
As a whole, bills like this have the effect of stigmatizing and restricting transgender people and disregards sexual-orientation discrimination. In other words, the indirect effects of the bill go beyond just bathrooms. It is potentially introducing a slippery slope of discrimination in other accommodations, like housing. Therefore, we encourage you to review your rental policies and procedures to ensure you are doing everything possible to create equal treatment and opportunity for all of your applicants and tenants.
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