This December Elliot Page, an American Actor most well known for their starring role in Umbrella Academy as Vanya Hargeaves and Juno in the film Juno, came out as transgender. Page wrote a message and posted it on their instagram account and introduced himself as Elliot Page and stated that his pronouns were he/him/they/them. This means that Page is comfortable being addressed as either he or they or using them interchangeably.

“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,” said Page. Being in the spotlight brings many challenges when it comes to privacy and how you are perceived by others. It is no easy task to show yourself to the unaccepting world of critics and online trolls. Luckily, Page’s message was widely supported by friends, fans, and even the media. 

For many young adults and teenagers, Elliot Page is a role model. And now more than ever their presence in the media has been so important. In the entertainment industry having a transgender superhero is someting that just doesn’t happen. But, Page will continue his role in Umbrella Academy, making Page one of the few or only trans superheroes supported in the film industry. 

Elliot’s heartfelt message was very impactful and also shed light on the violence towards transgender people and especially trans POC. “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 am scared of the invasiveness, the hate, the “jokes” and of violence.” As a white person, Page acknowledges his privilege in the situation. He went on saying how unsafe it is for trans people to be their authentic self, “The statistics are staggering. The discrimination towards trans people is rife, insidious and cruel, resulting in horrific consequences. In 2020 alone it has been reported that at least 40 transgender people have been murdered, the majority of which were Black and Latinx trans women.” By addressing this issue, Page keeps the conversation of trans visibility and trans rights going. As well as addressing that race is still a big factor in who is being harmed. There is no question that people of color are more at risk for being victims of violence, especially those who are also part of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Page also stated that he is proud to be trans and queer. He ended his message by saying, “To all trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse and the threat of violence everyday: I see you, I love you and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better.” Elliot Page has been and will continue to be an inspiration for people in the arts and young trans kids.