Mitch Perry
Tampa hosts the Womens’ Final Four college basketball tournament this weekend, and if Indiana doesn’t get its act together on its controversial religious freedom legislation the event could return to the Cigar City next year, if Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn has his way.
“Sports teach us dedication, fair play and teamwork,” Buckhorn wrote to NCAA President Mark Emmert Thursday. “It teaches us that we should judge others for their talents and who they are, instead of where they come from, what they look like, or who they love. A championship host city should reflect that spirit of sport. Championship games held in the state of Indiana with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in effect can no longer do so.”
Buckhorn’s letter to Emmert comes as the Indiana Legislature scrambles to find new language for its religious freedom law. The bill that has sparked outrage across the country not only from LGBT advocates and their allies, but also major corporations across the country. They are concerned the law would allow businesses to refuse service to gay or other minority groups.
Republican leaders in the Indiana Legislature Thursday morning unveiled a change in the law that explicitly spells out that it would not permit such discrimination. Brian Bosma, speaker of the state Indiana House, said that the language would make clear that “we value you — gay, straight, black, white, religious, nonreligious. We value each and every Hoosier.”
On Tuesday, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence called on state lawmakers to “fix” the law by the end of the week, before the basketball games tip off on Saturday evening. The NCAA’s corporate officers are located in Indianapolis.
In Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, another Republican, has asked state lawmakers there to make sure that state’s recently enacted religious freedom law mirrors a federal religious freedom law passed in 1993 and signed by then-President Bill Clinton.
In his letter to Emmert, Buckhorn employs similar language that he used in his inaugural speech Wednesday officially beginning his second term as mayor.
“Throughout our history, Cuban, Spanish and Italian immigrants, to name a few, came here to start their lives in a new country, build businesses, and make Tampa the city that it is today,” he wrote in Thursday’s letter. “So, we carry with us a belief that as a city we can dream together, work together and embrace a common vision. We embrace everyone, and we work to eliminate discrimination based on sex, race, religion (and) sexual orientation that might stand in anyone’s way. While we may not all walk the same in life, we must all have the same opportunities and choices.”
The NCAA, though, sounds like it’s good with the new revisions the Indiana Legislature has made.
In a statement Emmert says, “We are very pleased the Indiana legislature is taking action to amend Senate Bill 101 so that it is clear individuals cannot be discriminated against. NCAA core values call for an environment that is inclusive and non-discriminatory for our student-athletes, membership, fans, staff and their families. We look forward to the amended bill being passed quickly and signed into law expeditiously by the governor.”
So barring a legislative obstacle rearing up in Indiana, the games likely won’t be returning back to Tampa next year. There’s no downside to Buckhorn, though, other than from some social conservatives who may still insist that there’s been much ado about nothing with the Indiana law.
The women’s Final Four definitely will be coming back to Tampa — in 2019, as previously scheduled.
