— Steve Malik, the owner of the Carolina RailHawks, says he never threw a fundraiser for a political candidate before last night. Tuesday evening at the Cary offices of Medfusion, Malik’s med-tech company, he hosted a soiree for state attorney general and gubernatorial hopeful Roy Cooper, who is running to unseat N.C. Governor Pat McCrory this November.

Malik says N.C. House Bill 2, the controversial measure passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and signed into law by McCrory on March 23, was the last and most high-profile straw in a series of detrimental decisions that prompted him to contemplate more concerted actions.

“I think that North Carolina’s leadership has concerned itself with things it ought to stay out of,” Malik says. “I wasn’t happy with the voting ID restrictions. I haven’t been happy with the treatment of women and limiting their access to choices related to their pregnancy. I haven’t been happy with a number of other social issues.”

Today, Malik’s unhappiness manifested itself in several pro-diversity events announced by the RailHawks. The Cary-based soccer club, along with its two supporters groups, the Triangle Soccer Fanatics and Oak City Supporters, will host a joint, pre-match tailgate open to all fans prior to the RailHawks’ friendly against English Premier League side West Ham United on Tuesday, July 12. Food and beverages will be provided, and donations will be accepted to benefit Equality NC, the largest LGBTQ rights advocacy group and political lobbying organization in North Carolina.

Later in the fall season, the RailHawks will host an online auction of 10 autographed West Ham jerseys. Proceeds from the auction will be presented to Equality NC on October 22 as part of a Diversity Night celebration held in conjunction with the RailHawks’ annual season-ending Fan Appreciation Night.

The genesis for these events and fundraisers came three months ago. A week after HB2 became law, the RailHawks issued a brief official statement in response: "The Carolina RailHawks reject all forms of discrimination and are focused on providing an inclusive environment in the workplace, on the playing field, and for our fans on game day." Even before the RailHawks later announced their friendly against West Ham, Malik was already brainstorming other prospective pro-diversity events the RailHawks could sponsor this season.

On May 16, an op-ed by Darren Styles, publishing editor of Winq Magazine and a West Ham supporter, urged the English Premier League club to join boycotts of North Carolina by various entertainment figures due to HB2 and cancel their match with the RailHawks. Jarrett Campbell, president of the Triangle Soccer Fanatics, took notice and reached out to both Styles and the RailHawks’ front office.

“I saw an opportunity, with TSF and the RailHawks, to turn what could be seen as a negative by some West Ham supporters into something that was more positive and constructive,” Campbell says.

“I reached out to Steve Malik and [RailHawks President] Curt Johnson with a few ideas that TSF had been kicking around,” Campbell continues, “and said perhaps we could do something around the West Ham game to not only promote inclusion and take a stand against the divisiveness of HB2, but also potentially raise money for organizations here in North Carolina that are fighting against discrimination.”

The convergence of Malik’s gestating aims and Campbell’s suggestions germinated into the pro-diversity measures the RailHawks announced today. The measures also coincide with ongoing conversations RailHawks officials have acknowledged are taking place with the National Women’s Soccer League concerning the viability of a NWSL expansion club in the Triangle. The NWSL, which began play in 2013, features several openly gay players and has been vocal in its support of marriage equality and other LGBTQ issues.

“We were looking for an event to highlight our pro-diversity perspective,” Malik says. “I think a game as high-profile as West Ham is the right time to do it.”