WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and five of his colleagues asked the National Basketball Association on Tuesday to move its 2017 all-star game from Charlotte, N.C., because a new state law curbing gay and transgender rights.

Booker (D-N.J.) and the senators made the request in a letter to Commissioner Adam Silver, citing North Carolina's recent legislation requiring transgender individuals to use bathrooms that match the sex on their birth certificates, not the gender they currently identify as.

The law also bans local governments from passing non-discrimination laws to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

"We cannot condone nor stand idly by as North Carolina moves to legalize and institutionalize discrimination against the LGBT community," the senators wrote. "Nor should the NBA allow its premier annual event to be hosted in such a state."

NBA spokesman Mike Bass didn't immediately respond to a request for comment after normal business hours.

Booker was joined by U.S. Sens Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who noted that the first openly gay athlete to play in a major U.S. professional league, Jason Collins, made his debut in the NBA.

Since the North Carolina law was enacted, companies have dropped plans to expand in North Carolina, conventions have been canceled and Bruce Springsteen decided not to play a scheduled concert in Greensboro.

"Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry -- which is happening as I write -- is one of them," Springsteen said in a statement announcing the cancellation.

Booker and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) are among the sponsors of federal legislation to expand the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act and ban discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook