Big 12 could move tourney if religious-freedom amendment passes

The Big 12 Conference is paying attention to Missouri’s legislative actions regarding a proposed religious-freedom constitutional amendment passed by the state Senate last week. And the actions of Missouri lawmakers moving forward could impact where conference officials decide to hold future events, according to a statement issued by Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby.

Last week, the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament was hosted at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, which is where the tournament is scheduled to be played through 2020. The tourney has been held in Kansas City for 15 of the past 20 years.

Should Missouri lawmakers pass Senate Joint Resolution 39, the measure – which would allow certain businesses and religious organizations to deny service to same-sex couples based on religious beliefs – would be put on the November 2016 general-election ballot. 

“The Big 12 Conference and its member institutions support the rights of all individuals regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. It is acknowledged that elected officials enact laws they believe reflect the desires of their constituents, however, as a Conference we will consider the impact of the Missouri Legislature’s action on current and future Big 12 events within the state," Bowlsby said in a statement.

Read more from The Kansas City Star.