Malloy has been speaking at schools and conferences and to health and education groups for several years, including K–12 and university students, a faculty member at another private school, the Rhode Island School Psychologists Association annual conference, the Transgender Health Conference, and parent groups.
He was recently recognized for his advocacy for transgender people with an Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign. Accepting the award, Malloy told the crowd of more than 800 about the school’s support. “I felt trapped in one place, unable to escape any potentially unsupportive peers. But I was lucky. My school was, and is, incredibly supportive,” Malloy said. “In fact, my school shows the power that institutions have to positively impact people’s lives.”
By telling his story, Malloy believes he can build empathy among others for young people who face his experience with coming out and can be a role model for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender young people. It has also been therapeutic.
“Storytelling is a transformative experience, both for the teller and for the listeners. I deeply believe that it builds empathy, and that empathy is the root of understanding, change, and, eventually, equity,” he says. “I have seen how others’ preconceived notions and stereotypes about trans people have shifted as they have met and gotten to know me as an individual, not just as a trans person.”
Watch Malloy’s acceptance speech.
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Will Malloy accepting the HRC’s Equality Award
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