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CA Lifts Ban on Funding Trips to Anti-LGBTQ States — Just In Time for NCAA Realignment

California has lifted its ban on state-funded travel to 26 states with anti-LGBTQ laws — offering more financial flexibility for UCLA and Cal’s athletic departments just in time for the latest round of conference realignment.

Since the boycott took effect in 2017, the list of problematic states grew from a handful to more than two dozen, forcing public universities in California to find alternative sources of funding for road matchups in Arizona. With UCLA moving to the Big Ten and Cal joining the ACC next year, conference trips would have been a budgetary nightmare at North Carolina, NC State, Florida State, SMU, Ohio State, Iowa, Indiana, and Purdue instead of just Arizona and Arizona State.

States formerly banned by California for government-funded travel:

  1. Alabama
  2. Arizona
  3. Arkansas
  4. Florida
  5. Georgia
  6. Idaho
  7. Indiana
  8. Iowa
  9. Kansas
  10. Kentucky
  11.  Louisiana
  12. Mississippi
  13. Missouri
  14. Montana
  15. Nebraska
  16. North Carolina
  17. North Dakota
  18. Ohio
  19. Oklahoma
  20. South Carolina
  21. South Dakota
  22. Tennessee
  23. Texas
  24. Utah
  25. West Virginia
  26. Wyoming

California’s restrictions on state-sponsored travel proved to be an ineffective deterrent as more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in state legislatures around the country this year alone. Instead, California will invest $5 million in a non-partisan advertising campaign dubbed “The Bridge Project,” which will advocate for inclusivity in anti-LGBTQ states.

“In the face of a rising tide of anti-LGBTQ+ hate, this measure helps California’s message of acceptance, equality and hope reach the places where it is most needed,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom, who signed SB 477 into law on Wednesday.

The boycott also impacted the work of academics researching targeted states

“With nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills having been introduced in legislatures nationwide this year alone, now more than ever I think we need to reach into those communities with messages of support, inclusivity and understanding,” added Senate leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), who drafted the legislation.

Even a slight financial break could prove crucial for Cal and UCLA, which are already adding millions of dollars in additional travel costs with cross-country schedules after the Pac-12’s collapse. Plus, Cal accepted a reduced revenue share to earn an ACC invite and UCLA could owe up to $10 million in “Calimony” to its Berkeley foe for tanking the value of the Pac-12’s (now-dead) media rights deal with its departure last summer. The details of the tax that UCLA owes Cal are expected to be discussed during a UC Board of Regents meeting next Thursday.

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COFLO
1 year ago

what concerns me the most is California will invest $5 million in a non-partisan advertising campaign dubbed “The Bridge Project,”. How about funding for your homeless community that is rampant in your state. As well as the insurmountable amount of individuals below the poverty level, children who are coming to school without the basic necessities, the amount of folks who need drug treatment programs. Theft and crime that is out of control. Why are we looking at other states and worrying what they are doing. Take care of your home first before you go trying to solve other peoples problems.

Comet
Reply to  COFLO
1 year ago

Exactly

Anwar
1 year ago

Pretty rich for the State of California who promotes some of the most antisemitic school curriculum outside of Iran.

jeff
Reply to  Anwar
1 year ago

let me guess, you think anti-Zionism is antisemitic

Anwar
Reply to  jeff
1 year ago

If you are saying that it’s ok to completely ignore history and to deny self-determination for the indigenous people of the land for the last 3,500 years then yes, I would say that antizionism is just another word for antisemitism.

Iceman
Reply to  jeff
1 year ago

That’s because it is you fool 💀

Robert
1 year ago

Wasted everyone’s time and money with this from the beginning. It was obviously never anything more than posturing.

Underachieving swimmer
1 year ago

LGBTQ+ people are more accepted and celebrated in modern (American) society than they have ever been in world history. Respectfully, I’m not sure why the narrative that there is “rising hate” against them is as pervasive as it is.

Lane8 Swammer
Reply to  Underachieving swimmer
1 year ago

Rising hate:

  • 520 anti-LGBT laws have been introduced in state legislatures in 2023 YTD *new record
  • Over 220 bills that specifically target transgender and non-binary people in 2023 YTD *new record
  • 70 anti-LGBTQ laws have been enacted so far this year *new record
  • An increase in LGBTQ Erasure bills that strip dozens of legal protections and rights
  • Florida, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas have been the most aggressive in advancing anti-LGBTQ laws

*source http://www.hrc.org

LGBTQ people might be more “accepted and celebrated” in 2023 than they were throughout history but that doesn’t mean that lawmakers in some states are trying to erase the progress that has been made by taking away… Read more »

UncleSam
Reply to  Underachieving swimmer
1 year ago

LGBTQ+ are more accepted, protected, celebrated, showcased and supported more in the USA than any country in the world. The “rising hate” is a misplaced and illogical narrative.

Lane8 Swammer
Reply to  UncleSam
1 year ago

According to this report, the US almost doesn’t even make the top 25 for social acceptance of LGBTQ people.

https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/global-acceptance-index-lgbt/

jeff
Reply to  Lane8 Swammer
1 year ago

How does a comment with a source get more dislikes than the sourceless comment it’s replying to lmao

UncleSam
Reply to  Lane8 Swammer
1 year ago

A propaganda fueled report does not hold water with advanced thinkers.

Underachieving swimmer
Reply to  UncleSam
1 year ago

As someone who has been to Europe, the USA is definitely not the most LGBTQ embracing country in the world, haha (although it’s definitely up there despite what some claim). Have you ever been to the urban parts of Germany and Netherlands?

Just The Facts Please
Reply to  UncleSam
1 year ago

You’ve obviously not travelled or lived outside of the USA. Scandinavia, France, Canada, Netherlands all are much farther ahead as societies when considering LGBTQ rights.

Iceman
Reply to  UncleSam
1 year ago

Go to another country my dude…and try to be openly trans and see how that goes…rising hate? People are oblivious to the realities of the world

Lane8 Swammer
Reply to  Underachieving swimmer
1 year ago

That doesn’t mean that lawmakers in some states aren’t actively trying to take away rights and protections from LGBTQ people. 2023 has seen a record number of laws passed or introduced whose goal is to either erase rights or actively oppress LGBTQ people.

https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/roundup-of-anti-lgbtq-legislation-advancing-in-states-across-the-country

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Underachieving swimmer
1 year ago

So do you think that’s getting rolled back anywhere or nah?

SwimmerNotSwammer
Reply to  Underachieving swimmer
1 year ago

Something being better than it was previously still doesn’t mean that it is acceptable…

Robert
Reply to  Underachieving swimmer
1 year ago

I don’t know how you can possible make this statement? Do you not listen or understand Supreme Court decisions, hate crimes, and attacks from political factions? Where have you been living under? A rock or in the clouds?

Climate Change Hysteria!
1 year ago

This is very good news: CALIFORNIA HAS RESUMED TRADE RELATIONS WITH THE UNITES STATES!

America’s most intolerant and ambitious experiment in cultural cancellation has ended in abject failure.

The government of the state of California, which had attempted to force the entire country to adopt Golden State social policies, is now pledging it will seek to persuade rather than impose sanctions on people with whom it disagrees. If cancel culture can die in California, it can die anywhere.

Joe
Reply to  Climate Change Hysteria!
1 year ago

The name “climate change hysteria” is all I need to know to not take you seriously

Alaverga
Reply to  Joe
1 year ago

That whole comment was a roller coaster of delusion, the username is just icing on the “I watch too much Fox News” cake

Comet
Reply to  Alaverga
1 year ago

That Fox News argument is old and tired. Do you realize that Fox News it’s the other side of the same coin ? Six corporations own 95% of the media and their job is propaganda.
As far as the poster he is just spouting thr truth!

Alaverga
Reply to  Comet
1 year ago

Last time I checked Fox News is the only “news corporation” that is consistently sued for slander and defamation. And recently had to settle for like, 800 million dollars for consistently lying on their programs. It’s not the other side of the same coin.

Alaverga
Reply to  Comet
1 year ago

Also, could you point out to me? Which part of that comment was the truth? California never halted trade relations with the rest of the US and never tried to force anyone to do anything.

Virtus
Reply to  Climate Change Hysteria!
1 year ago

Relax bud u can leave the simulation now

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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