Celebrities Are Sharing Their Support and Admiration for Elliot Page

The 'Juno' star came out as trans and used his coming out post as a call to action for lawmakers.

Update, December 2nd, 2020: Yesterday, December 1st, Elliot Page, the Oscar-nominated actor best known for his roles in Juno, Inception and The Umbrella Academy, came out as trans in a moving letter to fans posted to social media. Though Page is “profoundly happy” with his ability to now live his authentic self, “knowing how much privilege I carry, I am also scared…of the invasiveness, the hate, the ‘jokes’ and of violence.” Though living life as a trans person is no easy task in this current moment in time, Page has more than a few supporters ready to back him up at any turn or bump in the road.

After posting his letter, so many celebrity friends and fans reposted Page’s letter and thanked him for making the brave decision to publicly step into his true identity.

Anna Kendrick called Page’s words “so beautiful and eloquent, and he is reminding me that we can all be brave and joyful, even when things are scary.” And actor Sir Ian McKellen thanked Page for sharing his journey. “Yours is a voice that needs to be heard, to encourage and educate us all,” McKellen wrote.

Sex and the City’s Cynthia Nixon welcomed Page home. We are so glad you’ve arrived!

The Good Place’s Jameela Jamil congratulated Page and wrote that his coming out story is “going to mean so much to so many people in the world.”

And Page’s Umbrella Academy costar Justin H. Minn tweeted, welcome to the fam, elliot.

Page garnered support here, there, and everywhere, and the internet coming together to welcome Elliot with open arms is something that will make you well up/sob.

The cherry on top is a message from Page’s wife Emma Portner, who reposted Page’s letter to her Instagram and wrote, I am so proud of @elliotpage. Trans, queer and non-binary people are a gift to this world.

She asked for “patience & privacy” while they enter into this new chapter of life, but also wished for friends, family, and followers to “join me in the fervent support of trans life every single day. Elliot’s existence is a gift in and of itself. Shine on sweet E. Love you so much.”

Luckily, there’s plenty of room for all of us to be Page’s biggest fan.

Original Post, December 1st, 2020: In a powerful post on his social media platforms, Juno star Elliot Page has come out as trans, opening up about the journey he has experienced “to have arrived at this place in [his] life,” and why he feels so much joy mixed with fear about being transgender amid the violence and discrimination trans people face each day around the globe.

“Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot,” Page wrote. “I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life. I feel overwhelming gratitude for the incredible people who have supported me along this journey.

Page continued, “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.”

He acknowledged that having such a large platform and being publicly trans affords a certain level of privilege, adding, “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.”

Addressing the harrowing reality for trans individuals, especially Black, Latinx, and indigenous trans women who face the threat of violence each and every day, Page added, “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 Latinx trans women.”

Page issued a call to action for lawmakers and those with political power to help protect the most marginalized trans folks. “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 wrote. “You unleash a fury of vile and demeaning rage that lands on the shoulders of the trans community, a community in which 40% of trans adults report attempting suicide. Enough is enough.”

“I love that I am trans,” he continued. “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.” He ended his statement by addressing “all the trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse, and the threat of violence every day,” adding, “I see you, I love you, and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better.”

Page’s coming out statement comes on the heels of Laverne Cox, one of the most high-profile trans women, sharing that she was recently the target of a transphobic attack while on a walk in Los Angeles with her friend. And in the U.S. alone, several anti-transgender legislations and policies have been filed in 2020, leaving trans children and adults at even greater risk for discrimination, violence, and a lack of equal healthcare, protections, and privileges that their cisgender counterparts receive.

There is so much work to be done for a truly equal and safe future for all trans and non-binary Americans, but we’re so lucky and proud to have public figures like Page to guide the way and use their platform to increase visibility for the community.

By sharing his story, Page is taking a hugely brave and powerful step forward that will help so many marginalized folks in the U.S. right now feel a little less alone and a little more comforted.

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