Christie says NBA ‘grandstanding’ over moving game because of transgender law

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie says the NBA's decision to move its All-Star Game from Charlotte because of a law limiting anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people was "grandstanding."

Christie made the remarks while co-hosting the WFAN "Boomer and Carton" morning radio show Friday.

The Republican governor asked if the NBA is going to evaluate every law in every state or just a certain law.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said last month that the league decided North Carolina's law limiting anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people made it untenable to hold its 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte.

Proponents say the law also protects women and girls in bathrooms from heterosexual men posing as transsexual women.

In New Jersey, Garden State Equality Executive Director Christian Fuscarino said Christie "continues to stand on the wrong side of history when it comes to LGBT issues, but especially those effecting the transgender community."

"Instead of bashing the NBA, he should be welcoming them to the Prudential Center in Newark," Fuscarino said.

The NBA hasn't announced a new city for the All-Star weekend in February. The league has said it would reconsider Charlotte for the 2019 game if disputes about the law are resolved.

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