In some heartwarming news, Juno star Elliot Page has come out as transgender, in a powerful statement via his Instagram account on December 2, 2020.
The 33-year old actor who currently plays the role Vanya Hargreeves in Netflix’s Umbrella Academy, took to Instagram to share his news and new pronouns - which are he/they - in a statement of plain text on a white background.
“I can’t begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self,” Page said. His joy of coming out was intersected with an important message for the trans community at-large, and the violence trans people face on a daily basis.
“My joy is real, but it is also fragile, I’m scared of the invasiveness, the hate, the ‘jokes’ and of violence. To be clear, I am not trying to dampen a moment that is joyous and one that I celebrate, but I want to address the full picture,” he noted in his post.
He went on to address the safety of transgender people in 2020, something that is still extremely fragile. While explaining that transphobia is "rife, insidious, and cruel, resulting in horrific consequences", he drew attention to the fact that 2020 has been the deadliest year ever for trans people, with at least 40 reported trans people (that we know of) having been homicide victims this year "the majority of which were Black and Latinx trans women" .
Page went on to address politicians and media figures, particularly in the USA who seldom fight for transgender rights, especially under the Trump administration. He said, “To the political leaders who work to criminalize trans health care and deny our right to exist and to all of those with a massive platform who continue to spew hostility towards the trans community. You have blood on your hands,” he continued “You aren’t being ‘cancelled,’ you are hurting people. I am one of those people and we won’t be silent in the face of your attacks.” The last sentence likely referencing transphobic authors and public figures (looking at you, J.K Rowling) who have recently become more vocal about their transphobia.
Page's statement was moving and gut-wrenching, especially when, as Laverne Cox noted last week when she was the victim of a transphobic attack, that violence against the trans community does not exempt those who are living with more privilege (like celebrity status). Cox stated in an IGTV video detailing the attack.
"It's not safe in the world. And I don't like to think about that a lot, but it's the truth," she said. "It's the truth and it's not safe if you're a trans person," Cox continued. "It doesn't matter who you are. You can be Laverne Cox, you know, or whatever that means. If you're trans ... you're going to experience stuff like this."
In closing his letter, Elliot Page shifted his tune back to the joy he was feeling, and the solidarity he feels with his community,“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,” he wrote. “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.”.
If you'd like to know where you can donate to help create safer spaces and a better world for trans people and the LGBTQI+ community at large, you can visit our list of how to meaningfully donate to the LGBTQI+ community. You can read Page's full statement, below.
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image: @elliotpage
