Ellen Page Came Out as Gay in the Most Inspiring, Awesome Way Possible

by Casey Lewis


Ellen Page
Ellen Page


Yesterday at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's inaugural Time to Thrive conference, a gathering that benefits LGBTQ youth, Ellen Page took the stage and delivered an emotional and deeply moving speech. Five minutes in, the actress revealed the reason behind her unexpected appearance: "I'm here today because I am gay. And because maybe I can make a difference," she said. "Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility."

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And from there, things only got more inspiring. "I also do it selshly, because 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," she said. "And I'm standing here today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain. I am young, yes, but what I have learned is that love, the beauty of it, the joy of it, and yes, even the pain of it, is the most incredible gift to give and to receive as a human being. And we deserve to experience love fully, equally, without shame and without compromise."

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She ended the speech thanking the audience-but not before sharing an insight so good you may just want to tattoo it on your forehead (but, um, don't actually tattoo it on your forehead): "This world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another." Sometimes the simplest sentiments are also the wisest.

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