Transgender activist and TikTok star, Dylan Mulvaney, gave an empowering speech at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards in London, after being awarded Woman of the Year by musician, Paloma Faith. In her speech, Mulvaney voiced about her struggles as a transgender woman, hinting at the Bud Light controversy and other hate she’s received.
“Some see me as the Woman of the Year, some see me as a woman of a year, and some change, as I only publicly came out online 560 days ago, and some people don’t see me as a woman at all,” Dylan Mulvaney said.
In one of her TikToks, Mulvaney was shown advertising Bud Light. The company has had a history of leaning on the more conservative side, so it was a shock to see Mulvaney advertise Bud Light. Because of the consumer demographic of the beer consumers, she got backlash.
However, this did not stop her from being the strong woman she is, being an advocate for others who face discrimination like she does. In Oct. 2022, Dylan Mulvaney interviewed President Joe Biden at the White House, discussing transgender rights. She asked Biden an intriguing question regarding how transgender Americans can be better treated.
“How can Democratic leaders be more effective in advocating for us trans people, and our families, and our lives, and our opportunities?” Mulvaney said.
Biden responds with words of support, recognizing that transgender rights are human rights. Transphobia is dangerous, and something needs to be done.
“I think that it’s really important that we continue to speak out about the basic fundamental rights of all human beings. And the idea, the idea that what’s going on in some states, I won’t get into the politics of it, but in some states, it’s just outrageous, and I think it’s immoral. The trans part is not immoral. What they’re trying to do to trans people is immoral,” President Biden said.
Dylan Mulvaney’s battles have proven her to be a strong woman, worthy of being Woman of the Year. She ends the speech with words of hope.
“Receiving this honor from a queer publication like Attitude means so much more to me. So no matter how hard I try, or what I wear, or what I say, or what surgeries I get, I will never reach an acceptable version of womanhood by those hateful people’s standards. But as long as I have the queer community that sees me for my truth, I’m gonna be okay,” Mulvaney said.
