In an 8 minute speech at the Human Rights Campaign’s Time to Thrive Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Oscar nominated actress Ellen Page, 26, came out as gay. In coming out, the star that is best known for her role in 2007’s Juno, and soon to appear in the movie X-Men: Days of Future Past says that she is tired of living a lie.
She openly discussed with young people at the conference how people put standards on you. Some of these standards try to force you to live a stereotype that does not fit who you are. During her speech she had to stop several times to compose herself. She says that she is coming out at this time because she feels a responsibility to try to help someone else. She says that during the years that she did not come out her spirit, mental health, and relationships all struggled. She wants to help everyone, regardless if they are gay, straight, or LBGT.
In particular, Ellen Page said, “I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission. I suffered for years because I was scared to be out. My spirit suffered, my mental health suffered and my relationships suffered. And I’m standing here today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain.”
The actress says that she is not making any public interviews at this time. She did allow the Human Rights Campaign to post the news to Twitter and Facebook, as well as following up with messages of her own.
During her speech she acknowledged several people that she felt had done a great job of being true to themselves. Among examples she cited were musicians Tegan and Sara Quin, actress Laverne Cox, and football player Michael Sam.
Those attending the speech gave her a standing ovation following her speech. Several in Hollywood immediately tweeted how proud they are of the way that she handled the situation.