The pandemic contributed to him embracing his new gender identity
Actor Elliot Page, who was formerly known as Ellen Page, has opened up his decision to publicly reveal his gender identity to the world.
The Juno and Umbrella Academy star came out as transgender in December last year.
In an emotional statement posted on their Twitter account, Page said: “I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot.”
— Elliot Page (@TheElliotPage) December 1, 2020
“I feel overwhelming gratitude for the incredible people who have supported me along this journey. 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.”
Elliot also admitted feeling “scared” of the “invasiveness”, “the hate”, of “violence” and of the “jokes” he may become a part of.
He said: “My joy is real, but it is also fragile.”
Three months on and Elliot decided to share his experience of publicly coming out as trans.
With deep respect for those who came before me, gratitude for those who have supported me & great concern for the generation of trans youth we must all protect, please join me and decry anti-trans legislation, hate & discrimination in all its forms. pic.twitter.com/5yr8TYywTn
— Elliot Page (@TheElliotPage) March 16, 2021
In an interview with Time, Elliot said he “felt like a boy” when he was finally allowed to cut his hair short at the age of 9.
He said: “I wanted to be a boy. I would ask my mom if I could be someday.”
Elliot became a professional actor at the age of 10, which meant that he “had to look a certain way.”
He said that he found it difficult to recognise himself and admitted that, for a long time, he could not look at photographs of himself.
Page came out as gay in 2014 and married Emma Portner in 2018, however the couple separated in the summer of last year.
Elliot said: “The difference in how I felt before coming out as gay to after was massive.”
“But did the discomfort in my body ever go away?” he asked rhetorically. “No, no, no, no.”
Elliot said he thought the coronavirus pandemic led him to decipher his true gender identity.
He said: “I had a lot of time on my own to really focus on things that I think, in so many ways, unconsciously, I was avoiding,”
“I was finally able to embrace being transgender,” he continued, “and letting myself fully become who I am.”
