(Toronto) Actor Elliot Page is in a bit of an odd position, he says, as one of the most visible transgender men in the world.
He feels better than ever. The Halifax-born artist is able to be himself without reservation. But at the same time, he publicly declared himself a member of a group attacked from all sides.
“Visibility is complicated,” he told The Canadian Press in a recent interview.
“We definitely need to see each other and reflect our joy, and I know how much that has helped me on my journey. But of course, it can also lead to negative reactions, and leads to the most vulnerable members of our community being affected more in this way. »
This dissonance is presented in Pageboyher memoir published by HarperCollins Canada earlier this month.
“I’m just trying to strike a balance in my own life,” he said.
The book gives readers a non-linear look at his life, exploring his childhood in Halifax, his early entry into acting, the fame that came from his role in Juno and the trauma that often accompanies being queer in Hollywood.
He talks about several sexual assaults over the years, public speculation about his sexual orientation in his youth, the harassment he faced when he came out of the closet as a lesbian in 2014, and the disbelief that followed when he came out as transgender six years later.
The common thread is his understanding, only sometimes conscious, that he was never a girl or a woman.
He was more aware of this knowledge as a child, until his parents stopped him. Puberty also had a moderating effect, and with it came the onset of gender dysphoria – what he describes as “a deep discomfort, confusion and incongruity with (his) mind and (his) body” .
“Something inside me always knew, but it was like I was talking myself out of it, finding a way around it because it was just too big,” he said.
The pandemic, a catalyst
It was the COVID-19 pandemic that sowed “the seeds of hope, the whispers of a brighter future”, he wrote. Seeing his reflection when he wore a face mask, he looked like the man he always knew he was.
From there it was quick. Much faster than the process of coming out of the closet as a lesbian, which happened gradually over the years. He remained in the closet until 2014, but had started dating women in his youth, especially during the filming of Juno in 2007.
In the decade since he first came out of the closet, the landscape in Hollywood has changed — but not by much, he noted. But it’s also safer, which makes the exit process smoother this time around.
It was not easy, but it was necessary.
“I would be lying if I didn’t recognize that sometimes it can be overwhelming right now,” he said.
Gains and setbacks
As society increasingly accepts the LGBTQ community, a backlash has developed and segments of the population have attempted to claw back recent gains.
There has been an onslaught of anti-trans legislation in the United States, where Page now lives, with more than a dozen states banning or restricting gender-affirming care for minors.
And while it’s tempting to think of Canada as a tolerant and accepting haven for LGBTQ people, Page notes that’s not necessarily the case.
“The climate is slightly better, but the emphasis is on the word: ‘slightly,'” he argued.
“Canada still has a long way to go. We see this very strong, aggressive, anti-trans rhetoric, this behavior, these large-scale attacks (and) these bills that are introduced and passed. We see this spreading in Canada. »
He cited the example of New Brunswick, where teachers are now required to obtain parental consent before they can use the preferred pronouns and names of transgender and non-binary students under 16.
“We have to be very, very careful about how we frame the conversation in Canada because it’s a slippery slope,” he warned.
Conversations on social media can be particularly acerbic, a constant stream of hate. Page says he personally ignores those talks.
“It’s not something I want to invite into my life and my space,” he explained. I know who I am. »