Ellen Page has called out the Trump administration, particularly Vice President Mike Pence for his views on the LGBTQ+ community, during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
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Pence recently defended his wife Karen Pence for working at a Christian school that bans LGBTQ+ students and teachers. In response to criticism, Pence said he was offended “to see major news organisations attacking Christian education.”
In her nine minutes on The Late Show, Page spoke about a number of important issues including representation in the Hollywood and film industry, climate change, homophobia, and the media’s treatment of Empire star Jussie Smollett.
Smollett told police he was attacked by two men after they shouted racist and homophobic slurs at him. The men reportedly beat Smollett, poured a chemical substance on him, and tied a noose around his neck.
“We have a media that’s saying it’s a debate whether or not what just happened to Jussie Smollett is a hate crime. It’s absurd! This shit isn’t a debate,” Page said.
“Sorry,” she continued. “I’m really fired up tonight. But it feels impossible not to feel this way right now, with the president and the vice president, Mike Pence, who wishes I couldn’t be married. Let’s just be clear – the Vice President of America wishes I didn’t have the love with my wife, he wanted to ban [same-sex marriage] in Indiana. He believes in conversion therapy, he has hurt LGBTQ people so badly as the governor of Indiana.”
While governor, Pence signed a religious freedom act which many believed would allow discrimination towards members of the LGBTQ+ community. Following state and nationwide criticism, Pence amended the bill.
“Connect the dots,” Page told the audience.
“This is what happens. If you are in a position of power and you hate people, and you want to cause suffering to them. You go through the trouble, you spend your career trying to cause suffering. What do you think is going to happen? Kids are going to be abused and they’re going to kill themselves. And people are going to be beaten on the street. I have travelled the world and I have met the most marginalised people you could meet. I am lucky to have this time and privilege to say this. This needs to fucking stop.”
Page was met with a loud and long applause from the audience.
The actor is the host of Gaycation in which she and her best friend Ian Daniel embark on a journey around the world to explore LGTBQ+ cultures.
Page had been promoting her new Netflix show, The Umbrella Academy, based on the comic book series by My Chemical Romance‘s Gerard Way, illustrated by Gabriel Bá.
