Trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney has been at the center of a media firestorm this week.
Bud Light hit headlines after sponsoring Mulvaney.
And there has been a backlash that has left the internet stunned.
The world is changing, and thankfully, as a society, we are becoming more accepting and inclusive of those who identify as LGBTQ+
Now, over the last decade, there has been a huge increase in people seeking treatment at gender identity services. The majority are teens suffering from gender dysphoria.
What exactly is gender dysphoria?
Gender dysphoria involves a conflict between a person’s s*x and the gender with which he or she identifies.
People with gender dysphoria experience high levels of discomfort with their own bodies, and they often report feeling as if it isn’t their own.
This could mean they align more with being male, female, or even neither.
The number of people identifying as non-binary has been rising steadily throughout the last few years.
‘Non-binary’ is the term used by people who don’t identify as male or female.
And there are a number of high-profile celebrities that have come out as such.
Demi Lovato.
Demi came out in 2021 on Instagram saying: “I feel that this best represents the fluidity I feel in my gender expression and allows me to feel most authentic and true to the person I both know I am and still am discovering,” as per Seventeen.
Sam Smith.
“I don’t know what the title would be, but I feel just as much a woman as I am man,” they said, as per the news outlet.
Ruby Rose.
The sensational Ruby Rose announced that they were gender fluid way back in 2014: “I am very gender fluid and feel more like I wake up everyday sort of gender-neutral,” they said, as per Seventeen.
Olly Alexander.
“I feel very non-binary, and you know, I identify as gay and queer and non-binary,” they said in 2016.
Miley Cyrus.
In a 2015 interview, the celeb said that they are gender fluid: “I’m just equal. I’m just even. It has nothing to do with any parts of me or how I dress or how I look. It’s literally just how I feel,” they said.
Bob The Drag Queen.
As per PopBuzz, the star tweeted “For the record I identify as Pansexual and non-binary,” in 2019.
Indya Moore.
“I’m non-binary, femme, Agender feels fitting too. My pronouns: they/them/theirs. I correct people often. At times they ignore me & I tolerate it to avoid conflict/irritation but it’s upsetting to feel like I’m ‘too much’ in a world that takes so much from trans people constantly,” they said in a tweet that has since been deleted.
And that’s just to name a few.
Historically, people — transgender people included — are either male or female.
But recently, some are insisting that they don’t quite fit into the categories of ‘man’ or ‘woman’, or ‘male’ or ‘female’, and thus identify as ‘non-binary.’
For a long time, we’ve lived in a world with people who identify themselves as either male or female…
The idea that there are only 2 genders is sometimes called a ‘gender binary,’ because binary means ‘having 2 parts.’
But now, as things are changing, people use ‘non-binary’ to describe genders that don’t fall into one of these 2 categories, male or female.
That isn’t all, either.
On top of people identifying as ‘non-binary,’ some people have been claiming that ‘male’ and ‘female’ are not the only genders out there.
Despite our physical anatomy…
They believe that there are over a hundred genders in which a person can identify.
There’s no doubt that there’s an increasing fluidity when it comes to some people’s gender identity…
And there are countless organizations around the world that work hard together purely to support people struggling with their gender identity, including the transgender community.
Now, the most famous celebrity to have come out as transgender is without a doubt, Caitlyn Jenner.
We all know who she is!
It seems she’s helped others in the spotlight be true to themselves…
And share who they really are with the world.
As long-time ESPN reporter M.A. Voepel has recently come out as transgender, revealing he’s transitioning to male.
Voepel opened up about his decision, sharing that he wants to show up as his “authentic self” when he receives the Naismith Hall of Fame’s Gowdy Award next month.
The reporter announced in a series of tweets on Tuesday: “I’m transitioning to male.”
“Fear can keep us paralyzed for decades, especially when we think we will lose all that is dear to us, including career,” Voepel said.
“At some point, you realize you need to have faith that your happiness/well-being is worth pursuing, and also have faith in other people’s kindness and grace.
Voepel added: “Grateful for a company that supports all of its employees, for terrific family and friends, and for societal progress.
“Please feel free to call me Voepel, MV, Michael, Mike; I’m good with them all.”
“I may look and sound a little different,” he continued.
“Glad to be who I’ve always been inside. Dedication to covering women’s sports, a lifelong joy as well as job, and admiration for all involved — players, coaches, execs, fans, referees, colleagues — that stays exactly the same. Thanks!”
Another popular trans influencer is Dylan Mulvaney.
The TikTok star has recently hit headlines for her collaborations with beer brand Bud Light and sports brand Nike.
However, some conservatives weren’t happy with the partnerships.
With certain bigots claiming the brands are “pushing gender propaganda.”
One such transphobe was Kid Rock.
He took umbrage with the collaboration and posted a bizarre video of himself on social media shooting a case of Bud Light with a gun.
However, Howard Stern has shared some strong words about Kid Rock’s protest.
“I thought there must be a piece of the story that I’m missing,” Stern said.
“I’m not bothered by gay people or transsexual people. They don’t impact my life, they don’t hurt my life. I love when people are in love. You wanna be a woman? Be a woman. You wanna be a dude, be a dude. Be whatever you f***ing want.”
“As long as you ain’t hurting anybody, I’m on your team,” he added.
“I wish I could call Kid Rock and have him come on the show and just tell me ‘Why are you so upset about this? How is this hurtful?’ I don’t know why he got so upset,” Stern continued.
“Kid Rock, I know him. He’s got a great life. He transitioned from some kid in Michigan to a rock superstar! I’m really dumbfounded by why someone would care so much that they would blow up a can of Bud Light and say, ‘F*** Anheuser-Busch.’ I don’t get it.”
Bud Light has stuck by their decision to collab with Mulvaney.
“Anheuser-Busch works with hundreds of influencers across our brands as one of many ways to authentically connect with audiences across various demographics and passion points,” a spokesperson for the company told Fox News.
“From time to time, we produce unique commemorative cans for fans and for brand influencers, like Dylan Mulvaney. This commemorative can was a gift to celebrate a personal milestone and is not for sale to the general public.”
And it seems the collab has hit Bud Light where it hurts.
Right on their bottom line.
Shares of Bud Light’s parent company have fallen by nearly 4% — knocking down the company’s market capitalization from $132.38 billion to $127.13 billion on Wednesday, the New York Post reports.
And that’s not all.
Sales of Bud Light have fallen some 70 percent, Nana Akua of the Daily Mail claims.
And Bud Light isn’t the only brand being hit by the hatred of transphobia.
Mulvaney’s collaboration with Nike has also come under fire.
Earlier this month, Mulvaney posted a sponsored image of her wearing Nike.
And the transphobes were not happy about it.
One TikToker posted a video in protest.
In Chatterbox Mama’s since deleted video, the TikToker said: “Nike, you should be ashamed of yourself. You chose a little boy with no breasts and some junk in his pants to represent real women.”
“I will never, ever buy a Nike product for as long as I live and there are millions and millions and millions of women just like me.”
“We are the queens, your consumers hit you where it hurts, and that’s right in your pocket,” she continued. “I challenge every real woman that is sick of this nonsense. It’s a great night to burn my Nike bras.”
She then burns her Nike sports bras, and encourages other women to do the same.
Mulvaney then spoke out about the furor.
She opened up on Tuesday’s episode of iHeartRadio’s Onward with Rosie O’Donnell podcast.
“The reason that I think I am so…I’m an easy target is because I’m so new to this,” Mulvaney said. “I think going after a trans woman that’s been doing this for like 20 years is a lot more difficult. I think maybe they think that there’s some sort of chance with me…But what is their goal?”
“I’m not worried about the people talking about me on their podcasts, I’m worried about their listeners,” she added. “And I also think that it’s just a heavy time. And it’s time to step up, for sure.”
And now, Megyn Kelly has offered her view.
“If Bud Light had used Caitlyn Jenner, would I be having the same reaction?” Kelly said on her most recent podcast ep.
“I admit, I would not be,” she continued.
“Caitlyn Jenner is a trans woman. Caitlyn Jenner doesn’t run around trying to say, ‘Trans women are women! Trans women are women!’”
Kelly also described Jenner as a “genuinely dysphoric” person who “finally found the courage to transition late in life and hasn’t been obnoxious.”
“[Jenner] understands there are differences, and that trans women should not be competing against women in women’s sports…” Kelly went on.
“I don’t think Caitlyn Jenner would think it’s appropriate for Caitlyn to be modeling Oil of Olay or a sports bra company.”
Kelly added: “Dylan dresses like a little girl and prances around fake hotel rooms, throwing her legs up in the air as though this is what a woman is. Like, give me a break!”
“This Dylan character is humiliating womankind and the people at Bud Light who allowed this are buying into it,” Kelly concluded. “They’re promoting it so it needs to stop.”