Former US vice-president Mike Pence gave a talk at the University of Virginia on Tuesday evening and he discussed a number of issues, including Lia Thomas‘ recent NCAA win.
In March, Thomas became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship event, doing so in the women’s 500-yard freestyle race, but Pence refuses to accept that win as valid.
“Emma Weyant won that race,” Pence said as he spoke on the college campus.
“I know that in his State of the Union address President Biden promised to stand for the God given right of men to compete in women’s sports, but common sense needs to reign and it will reign.
“We need to defend the integrity of women’s sports in America for the benefit of women everywhere.”
A controversial Mike Pence visit
It had been known for some time that Pence was going to visit the University of Virginia, which provoked controversy on campus.
The University of Virginia student newspaper had last month called for his invitation to be taken back, but that campaign was unsuccessful and Pence did indeed speak to students on Tuesday night.
The former VP even addressed the attempts to halt his visit during an answer in which he discussed the right to free speech, a right he thinks is being erased.
“I heard there was a little bit of controversy preceding my visit to University of Virginia,” he joked to those in attendance.
“I don’t have to tell conservatives on any campus in America about the assault on free speech.”
Pence‘s appearance was organised by the Young America’s Foundation, which is a conservative organisation. He and other conservative speakers have been appearing at such events, touring various campuses across the country. He is expected to visit other universities in the coming weeks.
Marca
