Joel Berry II #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels, Justin Jackson #44, Isaiah Hicks #4, and Brice Johnson #11 react after being defeated by the Villanova Wildcats 77-74 in the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas.

The NCAA just took a stand against North Carolina's controversial bathroom law and pulled seven major championship games out of the Tar Heel state.

The NCAA announced its decision Monday evening, citing the "actions taken by the state concerning civil rights protections."



The law (officially designated "House Bill 2") is the only statewide law in the country that makes it unlawful to use a restroom that is different from one's biological sex. It also overrules any local laws that treat sexual orientation as a protected class to prevent discrimination against LGBT individuals.

The NCAA board of governors said the dynamic in North Carolina "is different from that of other states" because it allows for government officials to legally refuse services to the LGBT community. It also noted that five states plus numerous cities prohibit travel to North Carolina for public employees and representatives of public institutions, which could include student-athletes and campus athletics staff.

NCAA President Mark Emmert said the NCAA will determine the new locations for these championships soon.

