Mark Emmert responds to 80 LGBT groups, reaffirms NCAA's inclusive stance on tourney sites

NCAA President Mark Emmert, in response to a letter to 80 national, state, and local LGBT organizations, reaffirmed the association's commitment to ensuring an inclusive, safe environment while selecting its locations for upcoming championship events. The NCAA is expected to announce the site selections for the 2018-19 through 2021-22 championship seasons in April.

In his response to the the organizations, spearheaded by Athlete Ally and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Emmert wrote: “The Board and I remain committed to maintaining a college sports experience that is inclusive and fair for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. As the next round of site selections is underway, this commitment has not changed. The bidding process for hosting NCAA events now explicitly asks potential sites how they will provide an environment that is safe, respectful and free of discrimination at the events. We expect that all people will be welcomed and treated with respect at our NCAA championships and events.”

Emmert's words reemphasize the NCAA's position, which led it to remove all of its championship events from North Carolina for the 2016-17 season as a result of the state's House Bill 2, which requires transgender people to use bathrooms based on their birth certificate and not by the gender in which they identify.

There have been many unsuccessful attempts to repeal HB2 and the deadline to meet the NCAA's requirements with a repeal has now passed.

The North Carolina Sports Association, which represents 27 counties across North Carolina that recruit and promote major sporting events, sent a letter to the state's legislature saying the state could lose an estimated $250 million in economic impact based on 133 bids submitted to the NCAA by North Carolina cities, colleges and universities.

Texas is looking to pass a similar bill that holds a workaround clause that would allow organizations like the NCAA or NFL — Super Bowl LI was in Houston — to lease stadiums and enforce their own inclusive bathroom rules.

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