The Trevor Project announced in September that TikToker and activist Dylan Mulvaney will receive the 2023 Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year award for her work in increasing LGBTQ+ positivity on social media and beyond. Mulvaney is a 26-year-old transgender content creator known for her TikToks chronicling her transition in a video series lovingly entitled “Days of Girlhood.”
The Trevor Project says, “Through her ongoing advocacy work and unapologetic celebration of their trans identity, Dylan is an exemplary possibility model for LGBTQ+ young people to envision a world for themselves where they can be happy, successful, and thrive openly and authentically,” of Dylan’s work. Mulvaney herself says, “If you are someone who feels alone or doesn’t have the support at home, I want you to know that this life is worth living and that I’m your cheerleader.”
In reference to The Trevor Project’s description of Mulvaney as a “possibility model,” this term can be defined as: “a possibility model gives people space to find their own path, their own possibilities, rather than base their ambitions directly on the achievements of another,” according Dr. Ruth Pearce, who referenced Laverne Cox’s preference to be called a possibility model for transgender youth.
So, The Trevor Project choosing to refer to Mulvaney as such opens the door for transgender youth to have a visible transgender individual who is healthy and successful while not pushing the narrative that there is one version of success or one way to be.
Earlier this year, Mulvaney was the subject of a widespread conservative hate campaign after she uploaded a sponsored video of herself promoting a contest Bud Light was hosting. Mulvaney faced an outpouring of transphobia and even death threats over this video by conservatives and right-wing pundits alike.
Throughout it all, Mulvaney remained graceful and strong in the face of vitriolic hate and continued her passion for vlogging and activism. And despite the efforts to keep her down, Mulvaney made an appearance on the Tony Awards red carpet in June 2023 and went on to win a Streamy in August 2023 for her vlogs.
Photo courtesy of social media
