Dana White, the president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has explained why the organization doesn’t host a Pride Night. In an interview with Tomi Lahren, White stated that he doesn’t believe in corporate virtue-signaling and that the UFC treats everyone with respect, regardless of their background or identity.

Respect Without Virtue-Signaling

White’s argument is not that gay fighters, fans, or employees are unwelcome in the UFC, but rather that the organization doesn’t need a theme night or public-relations campaign to prove its respect for all individuals. He emphasized that the UFC’s focus is on hosting great events and treating people with respect, without feeling the need to make a public show of it.

The issue of Pride Night has been a topic of controversy in sports, particularly after a recent incident involving the San Francisco Giants. The team’s pitchers, Landen Roupp, J.T. Brubaker, and Ryan Walker, wrote Bible verse references on their Pride Night caps, which sparked a debate about freedom of speech and expression in sports.

Free Speech and Expression

White’s stance on the matter is rooted in his belief in free speech and the importance of allowing individuals to express themselves without fear of retribution. He pointed to an incident involving UFC fighter Josh Hokit, who made a controversial comment during a post-fight interview. While White didn’t condone Hokit’s statement, he emphasized the importance of allowing fighters to speak their minds and express themselves freely.

The UFC president’s position is that the organization shouldn’t become a speech-policing operation, and that individuals should be allowed to express their opinions and beliefs without fear of punishment or retribution. This approach is in line with White’s broader philosophy of treating people with respect and allowing them to be themselves, without feeling the need to virtue-signal or make a public show of it.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.