‘The Umbrella Academy’ star Elliot Page reveals: ‘I am trans’
The Oscar-nominated actor first came out as gay in 2014 during a speech at the Human Rights Campaign conference in Las Vegas saying, “I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission.”
Page posted a heartfelt note on Instagram and Twitter and revealed his gender identity. “Hi, friends. I want to share with you that I am trans,” the 33-year-old The Umbrella Academy star wrote. “My pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot.”
“I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life,” he continued.
In his post, Page thanked the people who supported him in his journey and shared the incredible feeling to being able to pursue his “authentic self.”
The actor, whose role in Juno earned him an Oscar nomination in 2008, also thanked those in the trans community who continuously work to make the world “a more inclusive and compassionate place,” and offered support to continue to strive for a “more loving and equal society.” He also asked for patience as “my joy is real, but it is also fragile.”
His post may be celebratory but Page, who is a long-time LGBTQ+ rights activist, also took the opportunity to shed light on the reality of being a transgender person today in the US. He also admits that he is scared of the “invasiveness, the hate, the ‘jokes’ and of violence.”
(The Human Rights Campaign recently released a report that 37 transgender and gender non-confirming people have been violently killed in the US in 2020.)
Page concluded his post: 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.”
A wave of positive social media reactions came Page’s way as celebrities sent their outpouring support to the actor, starting with his fellow The Umbrella Academy stars Tom Hopper, Justin Min, Emmy Raver-Lampman, David Castañeda, Marin Ireland, Jordan Claire Robbins and TJ McGibbon. The official Instagram account of The Umbrella Academy also sent love to the actor.
Pop star Miley Cyrus, X-Men co-star Anna Paquin, Orange is the New Black star Ruby Rose, actors Rooney Mara, Julianne Moore, America Ferrera and Mark Ruffalo are some of the many celebrities who showed support for Page.
His wife, dancer and choreographer Emma Porter also posted on Instagram her support to Page saying, “I am so proud of @elliotpage. Trans, queer and non-binary people are a gift to this world. I also ask for patience & privacy but that you 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.”
Aside from the name change in his social media handles, Page’s name has already been updated in The Umbrella Academy’s IMDB page and his Wikipedia page already bears his name “Elliot Page” and pronouns have already been changed to he/they.
Variety also reported that Netflix is in the process of updating Page’s name in all the movies that she was involved with and the changes should reflect throughout the day. In the same report, Variety said that Page will continue to play the role of Vanya Hargreaves, a cisgender woman, in Netflix series The Umbrella Academy.