Turning a new page
Actor Elliot Page came out as nonbinary and transgender in a December 1st statement posted on Instagram and Twitter. He was previously known as Ellen Page. In the statement, Page says he identifies with he/they pronouns.
“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,” Page says in his post.
Activism on every page
Page is famous for his roles in “Juno,” “Inception,” and the TV series “The Umbrella Academy.” However, in addition to being an Oscar-nominated actor, Page is also an activist. Page came out as gay at the Human Rights Campaign’s inaugural “Time to THRIVE” Conference in 2014. Since then, Page has spoken out about LGBTQIA+ rights and intersectional feminism. In 2017, he wrote a Facebook post about experiencing sexual harassment from producer and director Brett Ratner. Since 2016, Page has co-hosted the documentary series Gaycation, in which he and Ian Daniels meet queer communities around the world.
Page has also long been vocal about discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community on social media. When Jamel Myles, who was bullied for being gay, died by suicide in 2018, Page Tweeted his condolences. In his Dec. 1, 2020 post, Page states fears about coming out as trans, knowing the discrimination transgender people face. He says, “The truth is, despite feeling profoundly happy right now and knowing how much privilege I carry, I am also scared.” Page cites the high number of transgender murders in the US. Page adds that many of these murders are of Black and Latinx trans women. He also addresses the lack of access trans people have to healthcare.
Violence against transgender people
According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 192 transgender people have been murdered since 2013. This year alone, 40 trans murders have occurred. The Human Rights Campaign website affirms it is difficult to track accurate statistics due to underreporting and misreporting. There is no official national data on transgender murders in the US.
Page’s impact
Due to widespread discrimination, the suicide rate is high in the trans community. The Human Rights Campaign affirms that the rate of attempted suicides among trans youth is nearly nine times the national average. Page’s bravery in coming out as transgender and nonbinary is one more step in his activism. Page joins Laverne Cox, Dominique Jackson, Alex Blue Davis, and many other openly trans actors and artists, who inspire the LGBTQIA+ community.
Page states in his post, “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 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.”
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