Matt Walsh, conservative political commentator who once called himself “transphobe of the year” in his Twitter bio, will speak in the University Chapel today.
Walsh’s appearance was first scheduled for March 30. The event was canceled and rescheduled after Walsh cited “security concerns” at home in a tweet earlier this year.
Walsh is known for his 2022 documentary “What is A Woman?,” in which he poses the question to both experts in various fields and everyday people. The film, which denies the existence of transgender people, claims to tackle “the question you’re not allowed to ask.”
Walsh is discussing the controversial film amid a tour to several college campuses this fall. College Republicans and The Spectator, a conservative magazine on campus, invited Walsh to speak.
Walsh’s upcoming appearance has reignited a debate over the meaning of civil discourse.
Eli Staubi, ’25, vice president of College Democrats, said inviting people like Walsh to campus only exacerbates rifts on an “already exclusive” campus.
“Civic discourse is when you have two parties that come together, who hold opposing viewpoints, but can at least respect each other,” Staubi said. “Bringing Matt Walsh in is the antithesis to civic discourse… he has said it’s his mission to get rid of transgenderism and gender ideology. That isn’t a position that you can have civic discourse with.”
In March, over 600 students, faculty, staff and alumni signed a petition asking the administration to cancel Walsh’s visit.
President Will Dudley responded to the petition, saying the university’s diversity policy allows any group to invite speakers to campus but does not endorse any speaker. He also mentioned his personal support for the LGBTQ+ community.
No such petition has circulated this fall. But Queer Liberation Alliance and OutLaw, two LGBTQ+ affinity groups, along with College Democrats, will be hosting an LGBTQ+ social during the time of Walsh’s speech as an alternative. Those interested in attending can contact Jake Reeves, assistant director of inclusion and engagement for LGBTQ+ support, for more information.
