Elliot Page Reveals How His Family Reacted When He Came Out as a Trans Man

Elliot Page is opening up.

In an interview with The Los Angeles Times published on Sunday (June 4), the 36-year-old actor got candid about their experience as a trans man, as well as how his family reacted to his coming out.

Keep reading to find out more…

Elliot explained that after he separated from his wife Emma Portner, he took a trip to a cabin in the Canadian forest during the height of the pandemic. At one point, he began hearing a voice that encouraged him to explore the complicated feelings around his identity.

“It was as if something in my brain turned around,” he recalled. “The agonizing voice saying, ‘No, you’re not,’ ‘No, you can’t’ just switched and became very gentle and loving. ‘Oh, maybe I’m trans. Why don’t I explore that?’”

Elliot also described what it was like after he came out publicly, as well as the privilege he experiences as a trans person.

“I’m such a rare example of what it means to be trans,” he said. “I’m just in this strange position where it’s like, yeah, my journey has really not been easy. At moments, I thought: ‘I don’t know what my future is. I don’t know if I see it.’ But I also just have this amount of privilege that so many trans people do not get.”

But Elliot also recalled a scary moment that took place last year, when a stranger threatened to assault him.

“Now when I’m in Los Angeles, I don’t feel comfortable like I used to going for walks,” the actor said, noting that he has the unique privilege of being able to hire security in the event of death threats. “Doesn’t mean it’s not traumatic. But I have resources that, in every instance that is difficult, protect and can shield me from these things.”

Elliot also shared that his family was not accepting, which contributed to the dysphoria he experienced growing up. His mother went so far as to tell him that homosexuality “didn’t exist”. This led him down a path of self-destructive behavior, which included restricting his calories, smashing his head with a hairbrush and other forms of self-harm.

In his memoir, Elliot details some of his experiences in Hollywood, recalling what it was like working on his hit movie Juno.

“How she dresses really resonated with people, I think, particularly young women who were constantly seeing something else at the time,” he said. “What’s so unfortunate and gross is that the people who were profiting massively off of the movie squashed that part of what made it so special by telling me to promote it while wearing dresses and heels.”

Elliot was also encouraged by a manager to hide his relationship with another woman from the press, which meant he attended the 2008 Academy Awards alone.

Now, after coming out as trans, Elliot says he feels more “patient” and “centered” while working. He told the outlet, “I just feel so much better on set… There’s an ability to enjoy the work that I haven’t felt for a very, very long time.”

The Umbrella Academy star also opened up about their love life.

“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had dating,” he said. “Interacting with people feels so much easier and more connected, because I’m not feeling lost in myself and not seen in the right way. … In the past, I always had an intense crush or fixated on an ex. Right now, there’s none of that. Like, ‘Whoa, I’m alone, and it feels really good.’”

He went on to say that his family has become more accepting over time, particularly his mother. “I think it’s really inspiring that she’s changed and become such an advocate and ally,” he said. “It took her time to break out of the ideas she grew up with.” He added that his mother seemed to experience “a sense of relief” when Elliot came out as trans because “she was able to watch him at ease with himself.”

But Elliot also revealed that his relationship with his father is strained – the pair haven’t spoken in over five years and Elliot says he doesn’t see them repairing the relationship. This is largely to do with his father’s support of “those with massive platforms who have attacked and ridiculed me on a global scale.”

Earlier this week, Elliot revealed that he had a secret relationship with a female co-star. See more here.