I Stand With You Elliot Page

Elliot Page publicly comes out as transgender and is living his authentic self.

On Tuesday, December 1st, Elliot Page released a heartfelt, authentic letter to the public on social media speaking out about his gender identity, advocating for the transgender community and sharing his journey toward living as his authentic self.

The 33 year old, Oscar-nominated Canadian actor and producer is best known for some of his famous roles in films and series such as “Juno” “Inception” and “The Umbrella Academy.” Page courageously opened up about his gender identity as he wrote, “Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, 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.” As a transman traveling my own journey living my truth publicly as my authentic self, reading his letter in my Instagram feed was an emotional, joyous moment.

In his letter, Page speaks out about how it feels to love who he is and pursue his authentic self, as well as his gratitude for the support. It has been heartwarming to see the support from many different sources including GLADD, Netflix, fellow actors and his wife, Emma Portner, writing “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.”

Being a part of giving and witnessing the support Elliot Page has been receiving has reminded me of the power this support holds after I came out as transgender. From people using my pronouns to telling me “They got my back,” they support me in living my truth and they love me— all had and continues to make a difference, especially in combating hate messages and suicidal ideation.

Page asks for patience while also speaking out on the emotions I am familiar with on the other side of celebration and joy as he writes, “I also ask for patience. My joy is real, but it is also fragile. The truth is, despite feeling profoundly happy right now and knowing how much privilege I carry, I am also scared. I’m scared of invasiveness, the hate, the “jokes” and of violence.” Page uses this emotion and privilege to advocate by shedding a light on the fuller picture of the transgender and non-binary experience. Especially, those of color as he further continues to write about the statistics of discrimination, suicide rates, violence and death impacting the transgender and non-binary community.

These statistics are heartbreaking. These statistics have impacted my local transgender community and have impacted my how, when, where and to what degree I have been out as my authentic self before and after I came out as trans. The fuller picture Elliot Page talks about impacts housing, employment, relationships, safety, access to basic needs and health care and quality of life. It matters. All trans and non-binary lives matter. Elliot Page speaks to the importance of this message. It is something I am thankful for because it is a message that seems easily lost and being transgender I find it common to not feel safe or seen.

But, Elliot Page’s letter coming out as trans and living his truth made me feel seen as a transman. His words reminded me of traveling my own journey. I felt connected, affirmed, empowered and proud. Proud of him. Proud of my trans and non-binary community and proud of myself. I could connect to his decision to publicly live his truth and all the emotions that come with, during and after that moment of coming out. I connected with the evolving journey of living as one’s authentic self; all the intersections, the importance of self-care and boundaries after coming out and the full spectrum of emotion combined with the courage/power of living publicly as one’s authentic self.

I stand with Elliot Page, the trans and non-binary community, myself and everyone to live their authentic truth. May we all connect, be supported in and have the opportunity to experience living our truth and what Page describes as he writes “the more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I dream, the more my heart grows and the more I thrive.”