I want to push forward with my strong suit, which is showing trans joy, she says.
But let me act!
Let me lettrans people do things other than just exist as trans!
Mulvaney has typically responded to right-wing provocation with positivity and grace.
There is just so much horrible anti-trans legislation.
If you want me, you want me because Im Dylan, not because Im trans.
Thats when you know they were just trying to check a box, she says.
I dont want us to take a step back I dont want to be the reason for that.
There is no person uncontroversial enough for those determined to eradicate trans people from public life.
Did her parents react poorly to her coming out?
No, not at all!
she says, her eyebrows raised in concern; even worried, her voice retains its sunny tone.
Because of the intense spotlight on her, she is protective of her familys privacy.
The important part, to me, is that people are capable of change, Mulvaney says.
They did, however, always support her passion for performing.
Success, onstage and in life, depended on her fitting neatly into roles.
There was no room for transness at college, she says.
I didnt have the best New York experience, she says.
I lived near Times Square in a one-bedroom with three roommates.
One of them was always stealing my packages.
Shes had a few potential Broadway opportunities come her way, but shes ultimately declined to pursue them.
Its an unfair expectation, for her or anyone else, but it impacts her decisions all the same.
Before breaking out on TikTok, Mulvaney had tried her hand at standup comedy.
I was really edgy in my standup, she says, laughing.
Icouldbe edgy like that because there werent kids in the audience.
The parallels between them are striking.
And much like Mulvaney, Jorgensen used her platform to act as a trans ambassador to cis America.
Dylan has created a lot of allies where we wouldnt have had them.
Her journey from the beginning has been so organic.
They have felt invested in her journey and want to protect her.
Its also those qualities that have made Mulvaney wary of being a figurehead.
Ive never said on behalf of the entire trans community or anything like that, she says.
We can all agree that my experience of this past year has been one in a billion.
Thats something shed like to do on a grander scale someday, maybe through her own production company.
Thats why Im trying to break into Hollywood.
In the meantime, shes working on two nonfiction books and hoping TikTok doesnt getbanned over purported security concerns.
(Isnt every app already sharing our data?
Surely there must be a few people sliding into her DMs?
Its… not the right ones, she says, laughing as she dips another fry in her ketchup.
Now, I know exactly what I want.
I know exactly what Im worthy of.
And I will not compromise on it.
When Mulvaney really wants something, she puts it on a vision board.
Theres something about asking for what you want or letting people know about it.
Were conditioned to be embarrassed for wanting nice things or wanting to meet someone.
Her optimism is as contagious as it is, in retrospect, heart-breaking.
Mulvaneys vision board for the rest of the year probably looks a little different than she hoped.
