Living out loud: Elliot Page fighting for change

Cropped photo by Frypie of Elliot Page reading at the 2023 National Book Festival licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

Benji Jakab Marton celebrates LGBTQ+ History Month and the battle for equality and visibility

Hollywood is perhaps not the best place to find a role model. Several Hollywood celebrities have shown the public that fame and glamour do not definitively make someone inspiring or morally outstanding. A good example is director Harvey Weinstein who was convicted of sexual assault back in 2020.

However, there are still some people in the public eye to look up to. I would argue Elliot Page is one of them; a talented actor best known for his recent role in The Umbrella Academy. His character comes out as trans and changes their name from Vanya to Viktor, reflecting Page’s own experience.

Ever since coming out in 2020, Page has been a major inspiration to LGBTQ+ people, especially the trans community. In a time when transgender rights are under attack worldwide, both politically and culturally, Page showed resilience and courage in revealing his gender identity. When his memoir Pageboy was released in 2023, it offered a deeper insight into his story.

The experiences of Page detailed in the book resonated with me as a trans man who also had to grow up in the closet. Pageboy explores the loneliness behind queerness, feeling invisible and unsafe even amongst loved ones. Page writes about how he hid himself and bottled up his emotions for the convenience of others, an experience that is all too familiar for queer people. By sharing these often heartbreaking memories of rejection, discrimination and depression, Page connects to the reader, whether cis or transgender, straight or gay.

What stands out, though, is not just the familiarity, but the inspiring process of self-discovery through a myriad of challenges. Page details how his family othered him for his queerness, how Hollywood discouraged him from exploring his identity, and the hate he faced after coming out. Yet, despite all of this, he chose to live his truth.

In the final chapters of Pageboy, he shares the joy of gender-affirming care, feeling finally at home and liberated in his body. Simple moments, like being topless on the beach or being called ‘Sir’ on the street, have immensely improved his quality of life.

Page is a powerful representative for trans men and transmasculine people

In today’s sociocultural landscape, LGBTQ+ role models in the media are more important than ever. Even as public figures and politicians attack the gay and trans communities, Elliot Page sparks hope in queer youth by showing that living authentically is possible. Beyond his inspirational story, he’s a self-aware person who acknowledges his mistakes and recognises his privilege. He uses his platform to uplift marginalised voices and remains committed to cultural sensitivity and personal growth.

Elliot Page is a powerful representative for trans men and transmasculine people in particular, highlighting our often forgotten or overlooked identities. While trans women receive a lot of negative attention in the media, perpetuating stereotypes of the ‘dangerous crossdresser’, trans men are rarely discussed or are reduced to infantilised portrayals.

Unfortunately, Page has been called ‘confused’ or ‘delusional’ by media outlets, but he rejects these misconceptions of his transness. His story of resilience is motivating and relatable, and Page’s description of trans joy introduces a part of the trans experience that fuels us in our darkest moments. I hope stories like his are one day celebrated by all, and until then, continue to inspire those who need it most. Check out his memoir Pageboy here.

I’m proud to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month in February 2025 with Exposure. This year, we’re honouring our LGBTQ+ community giving big thanks to the mentors and trailblazers who have paved the way. Their dedication to raising awareness and driving social change has inspired newer contributors like me to step out with confidence. Check out more ↓↓↓