NBA ADDS LGBT PROTECTIONS TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS

New York-- On December 8, the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced they would be adopting a non-discrimination policy that covers sexual orientation as part of their collective bargaining agreement.

The announcement came on the same day that HRC released the 2012 Corporate Equality Index, which scores U.S. employers on their policies and practices pertinent to LGBT employees. Earlier this year, the National Football League and Major League Baseball added sexual orientation to their nondiscrimination protections as well.

Historically, the NBA has been widely known to be a hostile workplace, evidenced by a string of homophobic rants and tirades by the some of the more visible basketball stars, including Tim Hardaway and Kobe Bryant. Other sources close to the NBA culture say that homophobia is still rampant, and in some instances, unapologetic and encouraged.

Because there are no legal protections for workers at the federal level, many private employers have adopted policies to protect their LGBT employees against unfair employment practices. HRC called on the NBA to adopt non-discrimination policies that cover sexual orientation and gender identity, and will continue to advocate for the inclusion of gender identity in their nondiscrimination policy.

Over the last year, a number of professional athletes have worked with social justice organizations to promote LGBT equality in America. Most recently, NBA great Steve Nash, Sean Avery of the NHL, and the NFL’s Michael Strahan, Brendan Ayanbadejo and Scott Fujita all participated in video ads speaking out in favor of marriage equality. With some encourgement, the arc of justice seems to be bending toward workplace equality.

Adopting policies to protect all NBA workers, whether they are clerical staff, front office workers or even players, is a step in the right direction-- or should we say, a "leap forward."