30 Good Controversial Speech Topics

Here is a list of good controversial speech topics to consider using for your next presentation.

Remember these are ideas for controversial speeches, so you don't want to just inform your audience of the subject. You need to pick a side and make an argument that your view on the topic is the right one.

Good Controversial Speech Topics - 1 to 10

alcohol has a more significant negative impact on society than marijuana
use of certain performance-enhancing drugs should/should not be allowed by athletes
condoms should/should not be offered in high schools
the voting age should be lowered to 16
parental consent should/should not be required for underage pregnant women to have abortions
gay couples should/should not be given the same legal rights as heterosexuals in adopting children
couples should/should not be banned from adopting children overseas
the USA and its allies should/should not have invaded Afghanistan
age discrimination should/should not be made illegal in the workplace
age of consent laws should/should not be lowered

Image by Richard Reid from Pixabay

11 - 20

the sale and consumption of alcohol should be illegal
attorney-client privilege should/should not be abolished
the assassination of a dictator can/cannot be justified
assisted suicide should/should not be legalized
beauty contests are/are not harmful
boxing should/should not be banned
voting in elections should/should not be compulsory
the Confederate flag should/should not be banned
corporal punishment is/is not a justifiable method of punishing children
schools should/should not be allowed to teach creationism along with evolution

21 - 30

the "double jeopardy" rule should/should not be abolished
public officials should/should not be randomly tested for drugs
feminism is/is not relevant today
there should/should not be public schools open to only one race
it is/is not justifiable to force gay/lesbian celebrities out of the closet in the interest of gay rights
polygamy should/should not be legal
countries that benefited from slavery should/should not compensate the descendants of slaves
schools should/should not have the right to search students' lockers
voting rights in the United Nations General Assembly should/should not be restricted countries with democratic political systems
violent video games should/should not be banned or restricted

I hope you found a few good controversial speech topics that inspired you! If you've written a controversial speech and would like to share it with visitors to Best Speech Topics, please send it in! I'd love to hear from you.