Elliot Page comes out as transgender: 'I feel lucky to be here'

Oscar nominee Elliot Page released an official statement announcing that he is transgender, NPR reports. Posting a public letter on Twitter and Instagram, he stated he was lucky to be here. His posts have since received much support from celebrities and fans alike, who have all expressed their gratitude that he felt safe enough to share this information with the world. While Page claimed it was remarkable to share his gender identity, he added that he felt scared about the future. These fears are not unfounded. As one of the estimated 1.4 million transgender people in the United States, he is susceptible to greater discrimination than cis folks.

"Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they, and my name is Elliot," the Juno actor declared in his statement. "I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life." He said he felt "overwhelming gratitude for the incredible people who have supported him along this journey," adding that it was remarkable to finally love who he is enough to pursue his authentic self. The actor also gave a shout out to the trans community, whose courage, generosity, and endless activism has made the world a more compassionate and inclusive place.

Page acknowledged that while his joy was real it was also, as he described, fragile. He explained, "I am also scared. The discrimination towards trans people is rife, insidious, and cruel, resulting in horrific consequences." As someone in the public eye, coming out as trans is an invitation for hate speech and harassment, particularly online. He also paid heed to the intersections of transphobia—as he rightly pointed out, of the 40 trans people who were murdered in 2020, a majority of them were Black and Latinx. With this in mind, the actor committed to offering whatever support he could to build a more loving and equal society.

The positive messages and appreciation soon came flooding in. Avengers star Mark Ruffalo responded, "Congratulations, Elliot, in committing to the full expression of your self and being so open and candid about it. You have made this world a more tolerant and loving place with your commitment, courage, and vulnerability. We are lucky to have public figures like you." The official Twitter handle of the show The Umbrella Academy, in which Page plays the role of Vanya Hargreeves, stated, "So proud of our superhero! WE LOVE YOU, ELLIOT!"

The actor is now part of a community that is 1.4 million people strong. Unfortunately, this community faces harassment at disproportionate levels. According to the Human Rights Campaign, anti-transgender stigma, denial of opportunity and increased risk factors compound to create a culture of violence against trans people in the United States. Therefore, Page affirmed, "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."