Dylan Mulvaney’s “Blue Christmas” is the trans holiday torch song we need right now

Dylan Mulvaney just dropped a melancholy Christmas song that perfectly encapsulates the holiday mood after what has been a “turbulent” year for trans people.

The trans influencer premiered her cover of Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” today, along with an accompanying video co-starring trans writer, actor, and model Kristofer Thomas as her love interest.

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“I now realize that when I work with a brand, that they will forever be a part of my story.”

“I knew I wanted to make something special for Christmas,” Mulvaney told Them, “but it had been such a turbulent year that I didn’t feel inclined to create something toxically positive or campy.”

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Mulvaney, of course, is alluding to the anti-trans controversy that erupted earlier this year after she partnered with Bud Light for a one-off sponsored post on social media. The collab was followed by backlash from conservatives, leading to calls to boycott Bud Light’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch, and a deluge of harassment aimed at Mulvaney.

As Them, which premiered the track, notes, the bluesy, down-tempo classic captures not only the less-than-festive mood many trans people are likely feeling at the end of a year that saw a stunning wave of anti-trans legislation sweep state legislatures across the U.S. but also the loneliness many LGBTQ+ people often feel at the holidays.

At the same time, it also manages to spark trans joy—as well as a bit of wistful sexiness. The video for the song, directed by Nick Laughlin and filmed at iconic Brooklyn queer dive Metropolitan, finds Mulvaney drinking alone at the bar before hooking up with a handsome stranger (Thomas).

“The creative for the video stemmed from this past summer of walking into a dive bar, finding a hot human to have a dance floor make out with, and then heading home on my own,” Mulvaney explained. “I think the video shows my followers that I’m growing up and my confidence is evolving.”

Mulvaney also teased what might be ahead in the new year: “I definitely think there’s room for more music in my future, and this felt like a fun way to take my audience there,” she said. “One can never wear too many hats.”