PGA of America Threatens NC Boycott, Lets ‘Gender Expression’ Govern Bathroom Choice at Quail Hollow

The PGA of America threatened North Carolina with a boycott the state if it does not overturn House Bill 2.

“The PGA of America strongly opposes North Carolina HB2,” a statement released by the outfit declared. “It contradicts our commitment to create an inclusive and welcoming environment at our events. We remain hopeful that the law will be changed.”

The statement followed decisions by the NBA to pull its 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte and SUNY-Albany to withdraw from a basketball game against Duke scheduled for November at Cameron Indoor Arena.

The golf group’s stance comes in the wake of an increasing politicization of the heretofore apolitical outfit. The PGA of America pulled its “Grand Slam of Golf,” an event the group ultimately discontinued, from a Donald Trump-owned course in 2015 for political reasons. In 2014, PGA of America ousted its president, Ted Bishop, because he compared English golfer Ian Poulter to a “little school girl squealing” for criticizing Tom Watson and Nick Faldo in a book.

House Bill 2 restricts use of government-operated, multiple-stall public restrooms to people of the biological sex indicated on the entrance. The law does not apply to a private country club.

The warning to North Carolina served as a “Fore!” to anyone looking to use the restroom at 2017’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. The tournament organizers plan to allow “gender identity or gender expression” to govern restroom choices.

“Since the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte is a private facility not subject to all of the provisions of HB2,” the PGA of America concluded its statement, “at the 2017 PGA Championship we plan to allow spectators to use the restroom that conforms with their gender identity or gender expression. As we look to future events, our willingness to consider coming back to the state of North Carolina will be severely impacted unless HB2 is overturned.”