Elliot Page Comes Out as Transgender and Non-Binary

By Evelyn Paulino, Staff Writer

Elliot Page, previously known as Ellen Page, is a Canadian actor and producer. He is well-known for his lead role in the 2007 romantic drama film Juno and his current role as Vanya Hargreeves in the ongoing Netflix action series The Umbrella Academy. The actor has won numerous awards over the years, including an ACTRA Maritimes Award for Outstanding Female Performance and a Chlotrudis Breakthrough Award, and was nominated for many others.

 

Early December 2020, Page officially came out as transgender in a moving Twitter post. He wrote, “Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they, and my name is Elliot.” Along with announcing his new name, Page had also specified that he was non-binary, meaning that he does not identify as either male or female. In his post, he also declared his admiration, pride, and support for the LGBTQ+ community.

 

Many have already shown their support and encouragement towards Page and his transition. Netflix, Wikipedia, IMDB, and other websites have updated his name and made other necessary changes to the actor’s profile. Several of Page’s colleagues have shown their support, such as The Umbrella Academy’s showrunner Steve Blackman and Page’s co-star Marlin Ireland, who plays Sissy in the Netflix television series. Other celebrities, including Mark Ruffalo, Anna Kendrick, and Ellen DeGeneres, have also expressed their support of the actor coming out.

 

Years before his transition, Page had also publicly come out as a lesbian woman. He had revealed his sexuality in Las Vegas during a speech at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Time to THRIVE event in February 2014. He announced, “I’m here today because I am gay, and because maybe I can make a difference, to help others have an easier and more hopeful time.” Page has been married to Emma Portner, a professional dancer and choreographer that he met on The Umbrella Academy set since early January 2018.

 

Although Page is currently playing a female character on The Umbrella Academy, Netflix has confirmed that his transition will not affect his role on the show. However, it may affect which characters and roles in any future films and television shows that Page may audition for or play.

 

By coming out, Elliot Page has become a role model and an inspiration for both the transgender and non-binary communities. He is not only encouraging and supporting them but also giving them someone that they can look up to and relate to.