The Umbrella Academy's Elliot Page is "grateful to be here" after transition
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Elliot Page has spoken about his gratitude following his transition.
The Umbrella Academy star came out as a trans man in late 2020, and has long spoken out about LGTBQ+ rights.
With his new memoir, Pageboy, Page, who plays Viktor Hargreeves in Netflix’s superhero series, wants to tell a trans person's story in detail, in his own words.
"I think this period of not just hate, of course, but misinformation or just blatant lies about LGTBQ+ lives, about our healthcare, it felt like the right time. Trans and queer stories are so often picked apart, or worse, universalised," he told People.
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Page, who found fame with Juno in 2007, acknowledges that, as a big Hollywood name, his story won't be the same as the average trans person's, but wants to provide representation and an example of a trans person achieving success and thriving.
"My experience as a trans person and this life I have, and the privilege I have does not represent the reality of most trans lives," he said. "I think it's crucial. I think we need to feel represented and see ourselves, you know, that's not something I had as a kid.
"The reality is, trans people disproportionately are unemployed, disproportionately experience homelessness. Trans women of colour are being murdered. People are losing their healthcare or couldn't access it."
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Despite his privilege, however, he says: "There's obviously been very difficult moments. I do feel like I kind of barely made it in many ways. But today, I'm just me and grateful to be here and alive and taking one step at a time."
Pageboy will be released on June 6.
We would encourage anyone who identifies with the topics raised in this article to reach out. Organisations who can offer support include NHS Choices (www.nhs.uk), MIND on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk) and The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation (www.bddfoundation.org).
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