Emmert has led the Association's efforts to address the issues of LGBT rights, sexual assault and violence, and increasing diversity of coaches and administrators. In April 2015, Emmert and the business and community leaders of Indianapolis joined forces to object to a potentially discriminatory law passed by the state Legislature, resulting in a reversal of the law several weeks after its passage. In September 2016, the board of governors of the NCAA voted to relocate its championship events planned to be held during the 2016–2017 academic year in North Carolina because of the board members' concerns about the discriminatory impact of HB2. The decision was hailed nationally as a critical part of the decision of the North Carolina legislature to repeal HB2. Similarly, Emmert and the NCAA have been recognized for their leadership by Lambda Legal and the NAACP of South Carolina.