National Basketball Association

Top Massachusetts lawmaker makes play for NBA All-Star Game

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:57 p.m. ET

foxsports

BOSTON (AP) A top Massachusetts lawmaker is making a play for the NBA's 2017 All-Star Game.

The league announced Thursday that it's moving the game out of Charlotte because of its objections to a North Carolina law that limits anti-discrimination protections for gay, lesbian and transgender people.

Democratic House Speaker Robert DeLeo sent a tweet urging the NBA to bring the game to Massachusetts, where lawmakers recently approved a transgender rights law.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker signed the bill earlier this month.

Among other things, the law allows transgender people to use restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity.

The league's decision comes less than a month after North Carolina legislators revisited the law and chose to leave it largely unchanged.

The league hopes to announce a new location soon.