Transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney spoke in largely empty auditorium for a free-admission lecture at Penn State University earlier this week, according to a photo shared by Young America’s Foundation.
Reaction on social media to the turnout for “A Conversation with Dylan Mulvaney” Tuesday evening in Alumni Hall was more than a little humorous:
- “Oh, well I’m sure the venue identifies as sold out,” one commenter said.
- “He can imagine his audience like he imagines his gender,” another user quipped.
- “Surprisingly, the prancing troonery of this modern minstrel show doesn’t have an enormous offline following,” another commenter noted. “Very mysterious.”
- “He can pretend it’s a huge crowd, just like he pretends he’s a girl,” another user observed.
- “The people in the audience are as imaginary as the genders they come up with,” another commenter stated.
- “Everyone heard they were only serving Bud Light,” another user joked.
- “Even the kids know he’s a con artist,” another commenter wrote.
‘It feels fun to be sexy’
Mulvaney — a biological male who identifies as female and made one of Forbes’ “30 Under 30” lists last month — led the audience in a school chant before sitting down, the Daily Collegian reported.
Mulvaney discussed having “a hard six months” due to backlash after Bud Light used the trans influencer to promote the beer brand earlier this year, the Collegian noted.
“I realized that these companies were capitalizing on my identity and transness in a way that was really ugly,” Mulvaney said, according to the paper. “I was putting my energy and identity into situations that were not safe for me or for the [trans] community.”
Mulvaney also talked about trying new clothing, the paper said: “It feels fun to be sexy and love my body for the first time because I’m wearing it for myself and not anyone else.”
Student Naskara Sharma told the Collegian she was in awe of Mulvaney’s poise and composure throughout the night: “She’s absolutely gorgeous, and it was just so incredible to hear how far she’s come, and how she’s been able to stay so positive even through all the negativity.”
The Daily Wire said Mulvaney typically charges $40,000 for a speaking engagement but that it’s unclear if Mulvaney and the Student Programming Association worked out a less pricey payment for the event. The Daily Mail said student fees covered the Mulvaney speech at Penn State.
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