Page first broke through into mainstream acting success with his lead role in the 2007 film Juno. For his role in the film, Page received nominations across the entertainment industry, including a nomination at the 2008 Oscars. The start went on to take on roles in the X-Men franchise, Inception, Flatliners, and most recently in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy.
While Page was proud of his announcement on Tuesday, the star also urged his fans to be patient with him as he completed his transition. “My joy is real, but it is also fragile,” he wrote. “The truth is, despite feeling profoundly happy right now and knowing how much privilege I carry, I am also so scared. I’m scared of the invasiveness, the hate, the “jokes” and of violence. I am not trying to dampen a moment that is joyouss and one that I celebrate, but I want to address the full picture. The statistics are staggering.”
Overall, though, Page said that he felt incredibly proud to come out as his truest self. “I love that I am trans. And I love that I am queer. And the more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I dream, the more my heart grows and the more I thrive,” he wrote. “To all the trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse, and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you, and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better.”
Nick Adams, the director of transgender media at GLAAD, applauded Page for his courage in publicly speaking out about his transgender and non-binary identity. “Elliot Page has given us fantastic characters on-screen, and has been an outspoken advocate for all LGBTQ people,” he said. “He will now be an inspiration to countless trans and non-binary people. All transgender people deserve the chance to be ourselves and to be accepted for who we are. We celebrate the remarkable Elliot Page today.”
Read Elliot Page’s full statement from his Twitter below: