The ACC Swimming and Diving Championships have been moved to the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in Atlanta and the dates changed. The women’s meet plus men’s diving will be held Feb. 13-16, and men’s swimming will occur Feb. 27-March 2.
The meets were originally slated to be held in Greensboro, N.C., as they have been three of the past four years, but the ACC announced it was moving all neutral-site championship events out of the state in response to the passage of HB2, the so-called “bathroom bill” which forces individuals to use the restroom assigned to the gender on their birth certificate.
Interestingly, both of these meets will begin on a Monday and running through Thursday. The ACC typically follows a standard Wednesday-to-Saturday format, but the last-minute change in venue forced some unusual steps.
Georgia Tech’s pool typically hosts a high volume of meets in the late winter, and this year is no exception. According to the Georgia LSC’s official website, the pool will host the Georgia Open Feb. 11-12 and Georgia Age Group State Championships Feb. 17-19, directly bracketing the women’s ACC meet.
Of the seven new championship sites listed only Georgia Tech Aquatic Center has hosted an ACC Championship before. The Aquatic Center has played host to the Championships as recently as 2015 and also bears the name of host for the years 2005, 2008, and 2011.
Ticket information and additional details for each of the championship events will be released at a later date.
Read more about the ACC new championship sites here.
Shame on the ACC. Apparently they are more interested in PC nonsense than the safety and privacy of women and girls. A once proud conference…
Some of us reading this post may have a son or a daughter or a swimmer they coach that identifies as gender neutral or questioning. Please keep that in mind.
I suggest we all learn about the realities gender neutral or queer/questioning people face on a regular basis. Forcing them to choose male or female and/or male-female bathrooms have led to numerous hate crimes across the country. Gender neutral bathrooms offer safety. The North Carolina law perpetuates hate and prejudice against queer and/or questioning individuals.
This is much bigger than we think in NCAA sports. This is not about “special rights.” This is a human and civil rights issue and I hope more NCAA conferences follow suit. A move like that shows integrity and respect for all athletes.
Christian Avard The origin of these “laws” is a coordinated attack on marriage, the family and healthy sexuality. Unfortunately, the fall out results in real crimes involving male predators taking advantage of these opportunities to invade the private spaces of women and girls to film, harass and sexually assault. You are correct about one thing though. This is much bigger than the NCAA and the ACC and they should stay out of it, and let the people decide how much privacy they will forfeit to accommodate these exceedingly rare situations. This horrifies the radical progressives though because they know what common sense Americans will choose.
Craig Stump
*** The origin of these “laws” is a coordinated attack on marriage, the family and healthy sexuality ***
How many heterosexual marriages have been “attacked” since the Supreme Court ruled LBGTQ marriages legal in the United States? Equality never equals the oppression of others. Fear and ignorance does. Healthy sexuality is based on love, respect and equality among partners. It never discriminates.
Again, spend some time working with individuals who are gender neutral or questioning. Because of what they endure, many suffer from depression and many will go on to commit suicide because society judges them inhuman. Is this how we want society to treat them? Is this how you want the ACC to treat them?
*** Unfortunately, the fall out results in real crimes involving male predators taking advantage of these opportunities to invade the private spaces of women and girls to film, harass and sexually assault. ***
That’s the same rationale people used to deny LBGTQ their rights. It’s right up their with the “gays are pedophiles” argument which is not only a myth, but bigoted, prejudiced and … socially ignorant.
Again, a mother or father or even a swim coach that has a queer or questioning son, daughter or swimmer may be reading this. I would suggest being mindful of that, or even approach this issue with an open mind. Better yet, see what it’s like for a parent or a coach and what they have to do to ensure their dignity in the world.
They moved it to protest the nc law.
Christian Avard As a physician who has witnessed first had the ravages of disordered sexual practices and dispositions I hope the parents will let their children grow out of their apprehensions and growing pains. However, if they remain confused they need professional help, not pop culture psychology and coaxing from the LBGTQ radicals who do not give a rip about the children, merely their agendas.
Facts are stubborn things. The most comprehensive study ever on the topic refutes the “born that way” mantra. http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/introduction-sexuality-and-gender
Will be a burden for alums, parents, and fans to take off a week from work to attend.
Good choice !
Heather Moyer Iglar, Billy Hurley
Ridiculous reason to move this meet. I doubt that the Womens teams want to shower with a man that feels like a woman that particular day. Elitist bureaucrats making these decisions should place their daughters safety and desire for privacy and modesty above politics…sports should not be politicized..America has lost their mind.
Matthew Wright