“Umbrella Academy” star, Elliot Page (formerly known as Ellen Page), has recently come out as transgender.
The 33-year-old Canadian actor shared the announcement with his fans on social media on early Tuesday (1st December) morning.
The Oscar-nominated star took to his Twitter, which is now registered as @TheElliotPage, to share the revelation in a lengthy and emotional statement. He wrote, “Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot. I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life.”
He added, “I feel overwhelming gratitude for the incredible people who have supported me along this journey. I can’t begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self. I’ve been endlessly inspired by so many in the trans community. Thank you for your courage, your generosity and ceaselessly working to make this world a more inclusive and compassionate place. I will offer whatever support I can and continue to strive for a more loving and equal society.”
The actor went on to be emotionally frank about his fears and concerns in coming out and the difficulties that come with it. Page wrote, “I also ask for patience. My joy is real, but it is also fragile. The truth is, despite feeling profoundly happy right now and knowing how much privilege I carry, I am also scared. I’m scared of the invasiveness, the hate, the ‘jokes’ and of violence.”
Page wanted to be clear that he isn’t “trying to dampen a moment that is joyous” but also wants to highlight the reality faced by the members of the transgender community. “The statistics are staggering. The discrimination towards trans people is rife, insidious and cruel, resulting in horrific consequences. In 2020 alone, it has been reported that at least 40 transgender people have been murdered, the majority of which were Black and Latino trans women,” he stated.
In the statement, Page went on to call out “the political leaders who work to criminalise trans health care and deny our right to exist,” as well as, “those with a massive platform who continue to spew hostility towards the trans community.” The 33-year-old stated, “You have blood on your hands. You unleash a fury of vile and demeaning rage that lands on the shoulders of the trans community,” while pointing out the high suicide rates among the community.
Page concluded, “I love that I am trans. And I love that I am queer. And the more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I dream, the more my heart grows and the more I thrive. To all the trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse, and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you, and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better.”
Following the revelation, Page’s wife Emma Portner took to Instagram to voice out her support for her partner by saying, “I am so proud of @elliotpage. Trans, queer and non-binary people are a gift to this world. I also ask for patience & privacy but that you join me in the fervent support of trans life every single day. Elliot’s existence is a gift in and of itself.”
Many celebrities have joined Portner in showing their love and support for Page following her announcement, including Anna Kendrick, Olivia Munn, Miley Cyrus, James Gunn and many more. Previously, the actor came out as gay on Valentine’s Day 2014 in an emotional speech at the Human Rights Campaign’s Time to Thrive conference for LGTBQ youth.
Elliot Page is known for his role in big-hit films and shows including “Juno”, “Inception”, The “X-Men” series, and the highly-celebrated “Umbrella Academy”, which will begin their third season’s production in February next year.
Check out his full statement in the tweet below:
— Elliot Page (@TheElliotPage) December 1, 2020
Source: Twitter, Emma Portner’s Instagram.
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