Ellen Page Comes Out

At Time to Thrive, a conference to promote the welfare of LGBT youth, Ellen Page came out as gay in a speech to the crowd:

"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. Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility. 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."

Page, who needed time to collect her thoughts during her emotional speech, talked of reading about herself in magazines and tabloids, telling the story of one article — accompanied by a paparazzi photo of her wearing sweatpants on the way to the gym—that asked, "Why does this petite beauty insist upon dressing like a massive man?"

As Page told the crowd, to laughter, "Because I like to be comfortable."

A tearful Page concluded her eight-minute speech by wishing the audience a happy Valentine's Day, sweetly adding, "I love you."

The remarks were met with a rousing standing ovation. Even from ne at my computer.

I loved what she said about lying by omission, because that’s what not coming out is, especially for a public figure; when you have to think about your answers so carefully, structure them so that they can be gender neutral regarding relationships, work your pronouns to fit, then you are lying by omission.

And she does a great thing by coming out, because she’s making it clear that she’s happier in doing so, and that every — she mentioned Michael Sam and Laverne Cox — is happier, more themselves, after uttering that little phrase.

Welcome out, Ellen, and please accept as our gift from HOMO HQ, the Obligatory Coming Out Toaster Oven and copy of The Gay Agenda.

Welcome out.

via THR