Ellen Page Comes Out As Gay! Tweets Of Support From Hollywood And Beyond Pour In
Actress Ellen Page has come out as gay! In a speech addressed to counselors of gay and lesbian teens in Las Vegas. Celebrities tweeted their support.
The event was the "Time to Thrive" Conference. "Time to Thrive" is described by The Daily Beast as an event hosted by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in partnership with the National Education Association and the American Counseling Association, and bills itself as an "inaugural national conference promoting safety, inclusion, and well-being for LGBTQ youth." This year's event was held at the Bally's Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Ellen Page's full speech is on video, some of the key excerpts are were shared by The Daily Beast:
"I am here today because I am gay. And because maybe I can make a difference to help others have an easier and more hopeful time."
"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. 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 that pain."
More excerpts from The Hollywood Reporter:
"I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission," Page proudly and defiantly declared. "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 was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar in the 2007 hit "Juno," where she played a teenager who got pregnant. She also landed a significant role in "Inception."
Tweets of support and praise from Hollywood celebrities and other popular figures poured in. Here are some of those tweets:
Hey @EllenPage...Be my Valentine? #respect
— Kate Mara (@_KateMara) February 15, 2014
Rivited by @EllenPage's fabulous speech. So honest & funny & articulate. She Shines. Happy Valentines day to ALL. https://t.co/s6fRvd8CNj — Kristen Bell (@IMKristenBell) February 15, 2014
Mad mad mad mad mad mad crazy love and praise for @EllenPage today. Congrats to you, you light, talent, and beauty.
— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) February 15, 2014
Yay @EllenPage Yay @EllenPage Yay @EllenPage Yay @EllenPage Yay @EllenPage Yay @EllenPage Yay @EllenPage Yay @EllenPage @EllenPage #brave — Sara Bareilles (@SaraBareilles) February 15, 2014
From another openly gay star:
Very beautiful Ellen Page!!! IM very happy for you!!! You are free! https://t.co/F3upFobC7g ... https://t.co/uHep8tPTmO
— Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) February 15, 2014