San Antonio is scheduled to host the NCAA Men’s Final Four in 2018.
It’s one of the biggest sporting events in the nation and expected to pump at least $75 million dollars into the local economy.
But the Alamo City could lose the gig – if Texas lawmakers pass a bill that requires transgender people to use bathrooms based on their birth certificate gender.
“I think the NCAA has made it very clear that they would jerk that Final Four in a heart beat.”
San Antonio city councilman and conservative leader Joe Krier is warning state lawmakers if they pass a bathroom bill they would put Texas out of bounds - same as North Carolina – for major sports competitions. Conventions and concerts might also be canceled.
“Before you take a position on this – or before you act on it – think through what it means to people who want to keep good jobs and to those of us who want to bring more jobs to this state.”
State Representative Diego Bernal – a democrat – says the bathroom bill is a wedge issue that Patrick and other Republicans are exploiting for political benefit – but it could hurt the state’s economic growth.
“This gives people something to be afraid of – that will never happen – and the consequence of that is not just all these lost economic opportunities but we really are playing with people’s civil and human rights here like a political football.”
Patrick says threats that Texas would see jobs loses is fear mongering. He says this isn't about discrimination. It's about protecting a woman’s right to privacy and security in the bathroom.
