Elliot Page Laments 'Overwhelming Tactics' of Anti-Trans Attacks: 'Just Pushing People Out of Life'

Elliot Page is opening up about his fears — and hopes — for the future of trans people across the globe.

On April 24, Page, 37, spoke at the Time100 Summit about how his career was transformed when he came out to the public as trans, appeared as the first trans man on Time Magazine's cover and the difficulties trans people are facing amid waves of anti-trans attacks and legislation.

The Canadian-born actor spoke candidly about his activism, telling Time editor Sam Lansky during the panel that he shared the fears that many other trans activists share about the rolling back of protections for trans people, specifically in Alberta. He also told Lansky that he can see similarities between the anti-trans legislation in the U.S. and Canada.

"It's the same unfortunately right now, overwhelming tactic of these attacks coming from all sides in terms of trans existence, whether it's healthcare, ID, use of bathrooms, the ability to play sports, et cetera," Page said. "Just pushing people out of life."

Just last month, the Alberta government announced that it would be rolling out legislation this year that restricts gender affirming surgeries, hormone therapy and more, according to the CBC.

Responding to a question from Lansky about how the fight for trans rights and bodily autonomy in legislation might be related, Page noted that these these things are "something that empowers."

"...It's about finding connection between these movements because they are all connected, right?" the actor said. "It's bodily autonomy, being able to have control over your body, over your life, over your future. That's, of course, something that empowers, that toxic systems of power and oppression are going to go after. Those fights and resistance movements are absolutely connected, so hopefully we can see more coalition."

Responding to a question about his goals for the future of trans liberation and LGBTQ+ equality, Page also said in a sarcastic voice that he was "so full of hope" to laughs from the audience, noting, "Come on, we all have those days."

"Some days we're hopeful and there's some days where everything you look at is gorgeous and other days everything makes you want to crawl into a hole and cry," he said. "I'd say where I know where I feel hope is in what I feel in community and those who care desperately about making this world a better place, who use their privilege, whatever that might even be for them to actively create change."

He continued, "Hope for me is those who continuously resist and support each other, no matter on whether it's a day you're feeling hope or you're not."

Page first came out as gay in 2014, then in a powerful statement on Instagram, came out as transgender in December 2020, one month after having top surgery.

During the panel – titled "The Power of Authenticity" — Page also opened up about the showrunner of The Umbrella Academy, Steve Blackman, and how he supported weaving in the actor's transition into the show's storyline.

"Yeah, Steve, the showrunner of Umbrella is actually probably one of the first people I came out to," he revealed. "I was supposed to go back to shoot the third season and wanted to ideally get surgery before. I called him nervously, and he was incredible."

"If anything, he was the one who was very insistent on immediately having it be a part of the show and supported me to be able to access the care I was hoping to get at that time," Page continued.

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For Page, transitioning has given him a different outlook on what roles he wants to take on as an actor.

"I get offers for trans roles and offers for cis roles. I guess in terms of what I'm interested in pursuing right now, I am looking forward to tackling all kinds of different characters and stories. I suppose I feel so much of my work, I've had to fight through such a discomfort before I could actually be present in a character," he finished. "Now, to get to start from a foundation of just being there is so thrilling."