The Stars yesterday became the "first professional sports franchise to publicly oppose the Texas 'bathroom bill,'" according to Lauren McGaughy of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Stars President & CEO Jim Lites in a statement said, "The Dallas Stars stand strongly opposed to any legislation perceived as discriminatory, including proposed bathroom legislation. Dallas welcomes all, and we welcome all." Lites also referred to the NHL Draft, which is scheduled for Dallas in '18 "despite objections from LGBT rights organizations." Lites: "We are proud of our home and want every visitor to feel safe at home here, too, and that's why we oppose this discriminatory bathroom legislation." McGaughy notes while Texans Owner Bob McNair has "criticized the bill," Lites is the first team president to "reject legislation on behalf of an entire team." Sources said that the Cowboys have been "quietly lobbying against the bill." But the team has "not yet publicly rejected it." Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban has also spoken out on the bill (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/10). SPORTSNET.ca's Mark Spector noted the NHL yesterday also "condemned the senate bill." NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly in an email wrote, “We strongly oppose the bill in its original form. We hope and expect that bill in that form will not be passed into law. We would obviously have to reassess the situation in the event that happens” (SPORTSNET.ca, 8/9). The AP wrote the bill looks "unlikely to pass" before a special legislative session that was called to "revive the issue" ends next week (AP, 8/9).
