Bathroom bill could keep future Super Bowls from Texas A spokesman for the NFL expresses concern about a 'discriminatory' measure becoming law in Texas By Ileana Najarro
February 9, 2017
Texas' next trip to the Super Bowl may hit a roadblock in Austin, where conservative lawmakers are pushing a bill to ban transgender people from the public bathrooms they feel most comfortable using.
"If a proposal that is discriminatory or inconsistent with our values were to become law (in Texas), that would certainly be a factor considered when thinking about awarding future events," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email response to a Chronicle question about the bill.
It was the league's first statement on the matter since the legislation was introduced in January.
"The NFL embraces inclusiveness," McCarthy added. "We want all fans to feel welcomed at our events, and NFL policies prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other improper standard."
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick favors the proposal, formally the Texas Privacy Act, which would require transgender people to use public bathrooms based on their biological sex and not the gender of their choice. Placing it among his top priorities for passage this session, Patrick has called the measure essential to public safety and declared it one of the "conservative principles" that protect "Texas values."
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