NBA Pulls All-Star Game from NC over 'Discriminatory' Bathroom Law

The NBA is pulling next year's All-Star Game out of Charlotte, North Carolina, saying the state's new bathroom law discriminates against transgender people.

The move could cost Charlotte more than $100 million. That's because the city expected to sell out most of its 30,000 hotel rooms for All-Star weekend.

"We don't care what your background is, what your feelings are, your race, your religion your sex. Just look at our hotel guests. We take care of everybody," Sid Smith, with the Charlotte Area Hotel Association, said.

Earlier this year, the Charlotte City Council passed an ordinance that allowed people to use the bathroom of their choice with no religious exemption. That meant churches and religious schools would have to allow men to use women's bathrooms, and women to use men's.

Mike Ross, pastor of Christ Covenant Church, opposed the ordinance. 

"This ordinance would have made churches and schools comply with these things and therefore would have made churches and schools do things that they thought were not only unsafe but unethical," he said.

Opponents said it would have potentially allowed male sexual predators into female bathrooms where they could molest or spy on women and young girls.

State legislators overturned the ordinance with a law known as HB 2. It requires people using government and university bathrooms to use the one that corresponds with their sex at birth.

Opponents of the law say it is discriminatory and violates the civil rights of transgender people.

"I'd like to see the Church be more compassionate in its approach, more accepting of all people," Russ Dean, pastor of Park Road Baptist Church, said.

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts would also like to see the law overturned. She's called on Gov. Pat McCrory to "own up to his mistake."

Business boycotts over the bathroom bill could eventually end up costing the state of North Carolina billions of dollars.

After the latest big blow from the NBA, the governor blasted the decision.

"The sports and entertainment elite... have maligned the people of North Carolina simply because most people believe boys and girls should be able to use bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers without the opposite sex present," he said.

McCrory was asked if the bathroom law is worth the cost to his state.

"Well, was it worth it for the city of Charlotte to bring up this issue when there was no problem to begin with?" he shot back.

North Carolina and 21 other states are suing the Obama administration over the issue of bathrooms, privacy, and access. It may eventually end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In the meantime, Pastor R.J. Davis, with Nations Ford Community Church, urged people to set aside their differences and focus on what's really important.

"So beyond just the bathroom, beyond just the non-discrimination -- how do we love people for who they are, and help them see what God wants them to become?" he asked.