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NCAA President Mark Emmert answers questions during a news conference at the Men’s Final Four college basketball tournament Thursday, April 2, 2015, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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FILE – In this May 27, 2015, file photo, workers at Lucas Oil Stadium install the court in Indianapolis as they prepare to host the men’s NCAA Final Four college basketball games on April 4 and 6, 2015. NCAA officials say they are troubled by the new law in Indiana that critics fear could permit discrimination against gays and lesbians, and they “will assess all our championships in the state of Indiana,” including next year’s women’s Final Four. Other sports organizations from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to the NBA’s Pacers to the PGA have all scrambled to tell the public that they oppose discrimination. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — NCAA President Mark Emmert said Thursday the association spoke with lawmakers and the governor of Indiana about how best to revise the state’s new religious objections law, and is in a “wait and see” mode as it monitors if changes go through.
A revised bill was working its way through the legislature on Thursday. Emmert released a statement early in the day saying he was pleased with the proposed revisions.
Critics of the law fear it will lead to discrimination against gays and lesbians. Emmert said the law “absolutely, positively” needs to change.
The NCAA, based in Indianapolis, was among the first organizations to express concern about the law when it was passed last week. The Final Four is being held in Indianapolis this weekend and Emmert said the NCAA would consider moving future events out of state if the law wasn’t revised.
Among the upcoming events scheduled in Indianapolis is next year’s women’s Final Four.
Emmert says he and others at the NCAA were concerned when no one, including the governor, could assure them that the law wouldn’t make it permissible to discriminate gays and lesbians.
He said he wants an inclusive environment not only for athletes, but for the 500 employees that work at the organization’s headquarters.