Months after coming out, Elliot Page is opening up about the newfound freedom that he has to finally be his true self.
In a new interview with Vanity Fair and a clip from his upcoming sit down with Oprah Winfrey, Elliot revealed that he wanted to come out after seeing what had been happening to trans people around the world.
“I was expressing this to people in my life, much before posting that letter…I wanted a moment, of course, to become comfortable in myself and to be able to kind of get to that point. And for me, I think it is in this time we’re in right now, and especially with this horrible backlash we’re seeing towards trans people, particularly trans youth, it felt really imperative to do so,” he told Oprah. “It felt important and selfish for myself and my own wellbeing and my mental health [to keep this to myself]. And, also with this platform, I have the privilege that I have and knowing the pain and the difficulties and the struggles I faced in my life, let alone what so many other people are facing. It absolutely felt crucial and important for me to share that.”
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Fans will be able to watch the rest of his interview with Oprah on Apple TV+ on Friday, but the actor also opened up a little bit more to Vanity Fair about how coming out has made him feel more comfortable.
“The most significant difference is that I’m really able to just exist. I would imagine you’ll understand where I’m coming from—just exist by myself, like be able to sit with myself. Not have some constant distraction, all these things that aren’t conscious or aren’t even overly overt,” he said. “For the first time in, I don’t even know how long, [I am] really just being able to sit by myself, be on my own, be productive, and be creative. It’s such an oversimplification to say it this way, but I’m comfortable. I feel a significant difference in my ability to just exist—and not even just day to day, but moment to moment.”
Elliot mentioned that he’s been able to be really creative by working by himself and with his friends on several projects. He also hopes by speaking out that more people would be interested in what it going on especially with anti-trans legislation.
“These bills are going to be responsible for the death of children. It is that simple. So [talking to Oprah] felt like an opportunity to use a wide-reaching platform to speak from my heart about some of my experience and the resources I’ve been able to access—whether therapy or surgery—that have allowed me to be alive, to live my life,” he told Vanity Fair.
Elliot also noted that he would love to tell his younger self, “That they were 100% real. I would tell myself I was exactly who I saw myself as, and felt myself as, and knew myself as.”
Elliot has already inspired many people and will continue to do as he keeps sharing his story.
From: Seventeen
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