Ellen Page, the star of films such as Juno and Inception, has come out as gay. The 26-year-old actress made the announcement in Las Vegas at the Human Rights Campaign’s THRIVE conference. The conference aims to promote the welfare of the LGBT youth, and Page delivered a moving speech for those who attended.
“I’m here today because I am gay and because maybe I can make a difference. To help others have an easier and more hopeful time. Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and social responsibility.”
“It’s weird because here I am, an actress, representing – at least in some sense – an industry that places crushing standards on all of us … Not just young people, but everyone. Standards of beauty. Of a good life. Of success. Standards that, I hate to admit, have affected me.”
“You have ideas planted in your head, thoughts you never had before, that tell you how you have to act, how you have to dress and who you have to be. I have been trying to push back, to be authentic, to follow my heart, but it can be hard,”
Page went on to single out examples of other courageous people coming out, including American footballer Michael Sam, Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox and musicians Tegan & Sara for what they have done to support LGBT visibility.
The Human Rights Campaign initially tweeted the news, before posting it on their blog.
Congratulations, @EllenPage for taking the steps to live openly and come out as lesbian. #comingout #timetoTHRIVE http://t.co/PneoSUunRk
— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) February 15, 2014
Photo: Jason Kempin via Getty
Via THR
