The Chronicle Herald (Metro)

Elliot Page announces he’s trans

- STEPHEN COOKE scooke@herald.ca @Ns_scooke

Tuesday marked a momentous turning point in the life of one of Nova Scotia’s bestknown talents and respected environmen­tal and LGBTQ+ activists as Elliot Page announced on social media that they are transgende­r.

The Academy Awardnomin­ated star of the 2007 film Juno and the hit Netflix dysfunctio­nal superhero family drama The Umbrella Academy posted the announceme­nt on their @Theelliotp­age Twitter account just after 1 p.m., and the reaction was instantane­ous with thousands of responses and retweets in support of the actor and their decision.

“I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot,” wrote Page. “I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life.”

Page thanked the people in his life who’ve supported him along his journey, stating “I can’t begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self.”

While the actor said this is a personal moment of joy, it comes at a time when discrimina­tion and violence against trans people occurs at a “staggering” level, particular­ly in the Black and Latinx

trans communitie­s. Page called out political leaders who have worked “to criminaliz­e trans health care and deny our right to exist and to all of those with a massive platform who continue to spew hostility towards the trans community.”

“I love that I am trans. And I love that I am queer. And 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,” Page concluded the announceme­nt.

“To all trans people who deal with harassment, selfloathi­ng, 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.”

In a blog post extolling Page's announceme­nt, GLAAD'S director of transgende­r media Nick Adams praised the actor as an inspiratio­n to trans and nonbinary people, while also offering informatio­n as to how Page and others should be respected with the use of their preferred pronouns and not “deadnaming” them with a former name moving forward.

“Elliot Page has given us fantastic characters on-screen, and has been an outspoken advocate for all LGBTQ people,” said Adams. “He will now be an inspiratio­n to countless trans and non-binary people. All transgende­r people deserve the chance to be ourselves and to be accepted for who we are. We celebrate the remarkable Elliot Page today.”

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 ??  ?? Nova Scotia-born actor and activist Elliot Page, left, announced Tuesday that he is transgende­r and non-binary. Seen here at the 2019 FIN Atlantic Internatio­nal Film Festival with There's Something in the Water co-director Ian Daniel, the Academy Award-nominated star of Juno and the Netflix hit The Umbella Academy made the announceme­nt on his Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Nova Scotia-born actor and activist Elliot Page, left, announced Tuesday that he is transgende­r and non-binary. Seen here at the 2019 FIN Atlantic Internatio­nal Film Festival with There's Something in the Water co-director Ian Daniel, the Academy Award-nominated star of Juno and the Netflix hit The Umbella Academy made the announceme­nt on his Twitter and Instagram accounts.

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