“I’m fully who I am.” It’s a powerful statement on the cover of Time magazine – one that will, infuriatingly, inspire toxic debate – as Canadian actor Elliot Page stares confidently into the camera in a black sweater and jeans. But it’s clear the Oscar nominee is ready to speak his mind and do what he can to lift up the LGBTQ2S+ community.
For the first time since publicly coming out as trans in December, the 34-year-old Umbrella Academy star is opening up, revealing that he wants to use his “privilege” and “platform” to help others in the transgender community.
Related: LGBTQ+ terms you keep hearing and what they mean.
View this post on Instagram
The last three months have been a whirlwind for Page: “What I was anticipating was a lot of support and love and a massive amount of hatred and transphobia,” he told Time. “That’s essentially what happened… Extremely influential people are spreading these myths and damaging rhetoric – every day you’re seeing our existence debated.”
He adds, “Transgender people are so very real.”
In less than 24 hours, the cover of Time, and its accompanying interview with the Nova Scotia native, has made waves on social media. And for good reason. The mag’s latest issue hasn’t even hit newsstands yet and it’s already making history for featuring a trans man on the cover for the first time in its 98-year history. But more than that, it’s because Page is taking it upon himself to be vulnerable and share his personal experiences in an effort to fight back at transphobia and, hopefully, normalize the notion of gender fluidity for those who still resist its existence.
Related: 11 ways to be a respectful LGBTQ2S+ ally.
Page, who uses he/him and they/them pronouns, even got candid about his childhood in Halifax, including an anecdote where he’d asked his mom if he “could be [a boy] someday.”
We can’t overlook the incredible strength and courage it took Page to not only be true to himself in his private life, but leave himself open and vulnerable to the public in an effort to support the LGBTQ+ community. The fact that his identity is still a perceived threat to so many people is frustrating and heartbreaking in equal measure.
Related: The richest LGBTQ2S+ celebs in 2021.
View this post on Instagram
The Time cover story also revealed that, since coming out as transgender, Page has been offered a plethora of writing and acting opportunities – many of which were other trans stories or “dude roles.” As a result, “I’m really excited to act, now that I’m fully who I am, in this body. No matter the challenges and difficult moments of this, nothing amounts to getting to feel how I feel now.”
You can read the full Time magazine interview here.
