Ellen
Page may be one of the most talented young actresses around, but all eyes were
on her for a different reason entirely last week when she gave an impassioned
speech at a conference hosted by the Human Rights Campaign.
Visibly
emotional, she told the crowd, who had gathered to hear her speak on teenage
homosexuality that "loving other people starts with loving ourselves and
accepting ourselves".
Taking
a deep breath, she continued: "I am here today because I am gay."
There was a moment of silence before the auditorium swelled with cheers and
whoops, applauding her.
Her
voice trembling, Page added: "Because maybe I can make a difference, to
help others have an easier and more hopeful time. Regardless for me, I feel a
personal obligation and a social responsibility. I also do it selfishly because
I'm tired of hiding, and I'm tired of lying by omission.
"My
spirit suffered, my mental health suffered and my relationships suffered,"
she said. "And I'm standing here today, with all of you, on the other side
of all that pain."
It was a speech worthy of an Oscar winner,
which Page almost was back in 2007 for Juno, in which she played a
pregnant teen. Last year I wrote about how few young lesbians were out and
proud, and how few identifiable role models there were for girls who may feel alienated,
shunned, or simply unable to talk about their true sexuality. Now, 26-year-old
Page is exposing the most intimate details of her life up for public
consumption in the hope it may help others. But does she really shoulder the
heavy burden of social responsibility to do so?
Tania
Douglas thinks she does. After coming out to her friends and family around four
years ago, 25-year-old Tania said she was inspired by Ellen's speech.
"It'll
be interesting to see how it affects her roles in the future, now that she's
out," she says. "There's been rumours around her for years, but it's
pretty ridiculous she felt she had to wait this long to say it. She should have
been able to say it years ago without fear, but society just hasn't caught up
yet."
Douglas
is right. Hollywood's other most famous Ellen, DeGeneres, came out with a memorable
Time Magazine cover emblazoned "Yep, I'm Gay". It was a bold, and
declarative statement, but salacious media interest left her "mired in
depression". No, we shouldn't care about celebrity's sexuality, but
unfortunately we do. And Page knows our obsession is unlikely to wane any time
soon. By not hiding, she is selflessly helping to pave the way for others.
Robyn
Exton, chief executive of lesbian dating app Dattch agrees, saying she hopes it
will encourage more girls to feel they can stand up for who they are, adding:
"This needs to keep happening to the point where it's no longer
news."
She
said she was delighted to see the young actress come out in such a public way,
given that others have been less than forthcoming in the past.
"It
was great Ellen was so brave to stand up and come out, especially in the
Hollywood industry," she says. "When Jodie Foster came out, she
didn't really come out. With Cara Delevingne, we all know she's seeing a girl
(US actress Michelle Rodriguez) but nothing's really been confirmed, whereas
Ellen made it very clear. She is young, and relatable to a lot of young girls
and that's very important."
Page
does have a touching vulnerability to her, a youthful sweetness that years in
Hollywood has yet to tarnish. But with great power comes greater
responsibility, argues Douglas.
"As
a celebrity, she's right when she says she has a social responsibility. Of
course everyone's entitled to some privacy, but to a certain extent you waive
that right when you're in the public eye. Your sexuality is important and she
shouldn't feel ashamed of it. No one should."
Ellen
Page has, in her own way, made life that little bit easier for thousands of
young women, and men, all over the world. And if that's not worthy of applause,
I don't know what is.
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