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Lawmakers need buzzer beater to keep NCAA tourney games in NC

By Joe Bruno, wsoctv.com
By Joe Bruno, wsoctv.com

RALEIGH — Sports executives said if House Bill 2 isn't repealed by Thursday, then the state won't see any NCAA tournament games at Spectrum Center or across North Carolina through 2022.

Lawmakers will need a buzzer beater if they want to wipe HB2 off the books before NCAA's deadline.

State Sen. Jeff Tarte, R-Mecklenburg, has joined the battle to repeal the controversial law.

Tarte filed a bill Wednesday that has four parts.

It would repeal HB2, reset bathroom and locker room policies to how they were in January 2015, add sexual orientation to the list of protected classes and provide a religious exemption.

"Everybody wins a little bit, everybody loses a little bit, but at least at the end of the day, it advances the ball and lets us get on with life," Tarte said.

It's unclear if the bill has a path to becoming law. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy groups, including Equality NC, have been pushing for a repeal of HB2 with no attachments.

"Vital protections for LGBTQ people that do not put a single life or anyone else at risk are not a reason to call for compromise," Matt Hirschy, with Equality NC, said.

The back and forth on this issue has frustrated many. HB2 is blamed for the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars because of canceled events, shows and company expansions.

With the NCAA deadline looming, political experts said it's possible HB2 will be repealed but unlikely.

"The challenge is both sides have spent the past year beating each other over the head with it and telling constituents how awful it is, that the other side is doing what it is, they've kind of boxed themselves in corners," political expert Eric Heberlig said.

Tarte said he is hopeful Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican leadership come to an agreement on a repeal, but he wants his bill to be in consideration.

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