Elliot Page is in a bit of an odd position, he says, being one of the most visible transgender men in the world.

HeB次元官网网址檚 in a better place than ever before. The Halifax-born actor is able to be his full self without reservation. But at the same time, he has publicly declared himself part of a group that is under attack.

B次元官网网址淭he visibility is complicated,B次元官网网址� he told The Canadian Press in a recent interview. B次元官网网址淣o doubt we need to see ourselves and our joy reflected, and I know how much thatB次元官网网址檚 helped me on my journey. But of course, that can also lead to backlash, and does lead to the most vulnerable members of our community being affected the most in that way.B次元官网网址�

That dissonance plays out in his memoir B次元官网网址淧ageboy,B次元官网网址� published by HarperCollins Canada earlier this month.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just trying to achieve a balance in my own life.B次元官网网址�

The book gives readers a non-linear look at his life, exploring his childhood in Halifax and early entry into acting, the fame that came from his breakout role in B次元官网网址淛unoB次元官网网址� and the trauma that often comes with being queer in Hollywood.

He wrote of several sexual assaults over the years, of public speculation about his sexual orientation in his youth, of harassment he faced when he came out as a lesbian in 2014 and of incredulity when he announced he was transgender six years later.

The through line is his understanding, only sometimes conscious, that he was never a girl or woman.

He was more confident in that knowledge as a child, until his parents shut it down. Puberty also had a dampening effect, and with it came the onset of gender dysphoria B次元官网网址� what he described as B次元官网网址渁 profound discomfort and confusion and incongruence with my mind and body.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淪omething in me always knew, but it was as if I was always talking myself out of it, figuring out a way around it because it just felt too big,B次元官网网址� he said.

It was the COVID-19 pandemic that planted the B次元官网网址渟eeds of hope, the whispers of a better future,B次元官网网址� he wrote. Seeing his reflection when he wore a face mask, he looked like the man he always knew himself to be.

From there, it was quick. Far quicker than the process of coming out as a lesbian, which happened incrementally over the course of years. He was mostly closeted until 2014, but had started dating women in his youth, including during the filming of B次元官网网址淛unoB次元官网网址� in 2007.

In the near-decade since his first coming-out, the landscape in Hollywood has changed B次元官网网址� though not a lot, he noted. But heB次元官网网址檚 also more secure, making the coming out process smoother this time around.

It hasnB次元官网网址檛 been easy, but it was necessary.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 be lying if I didnB次元官网网址檛 acknowledge that sometimes it can be overwhelming right now,B次元官网网址� he said.

As society has become more accepting of the LGBTQ community, a backlash has developed and segments of the population have attempted to claw back recent gains.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 been an onslaught of anti-trans legislation in the United States, where Page now lives, with more than a dozen states banning or restricting gender-affirming care for minors.

And while itB次元官网网址檚 tempting to think of Canada as a tolerant, accepting haven for LGBTQ people, Page notes thatB次元官网网址檚 not necessarily the case.

B次元官网网址淭he climate is slightly better, but emphasis on the word slightly,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淐anada still has so far to go. WeB次元官网网址檙e seeing that very loud, aggressive, anti-trans rhetoric, behaviour, full-blown attacks (and) bills being set forth and passed. WeB次元官网网址檙e seeing that spread up to Canada.B次元官网网址�

He pointed to the example of New Brunswick, where teachers are now required to obtain parental consent before they can use the preferred pronouns and names of transgender and non-binary students under the age of 16.

B次元官网网址淲e need to be really, really careful about how weB次元官网网址檙e framing the conversation in Canada, because itB次元官网网址檚 a slippery slope,B次元官网网址� Page said.

Conversations on social media can be particularly vitriolic, a constant stream of hate. Page said he largely ignores it.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not something that I want to invite into my life and my space,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 know who I am.B次元官网网址�

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