Elliot Page criticizes Alberta government for trans policies at Calgary Comic Expo event
Actor and activist Elliot Page offered a parent some guidance and blasted the Alberta government Sunday at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo.
Page, who stars in Umbrella Academy was asked by a parent for advice with ‘everything going on right now,’ how to speak to his son about gender identity.
“So sorry with what you’re dealing with,” Page said. “As a parent that must be so challenging and painful and frightening.
"I guess for me," he added, "it’s all about solidarity and community. You connect with other parents, you connect to other allies and stand up to the BS that is coming right now. And love your son -- and clearly you do -- and support (him).”
Page criticized Alberta policies on trans rights, re-iterating what he said at the 2024 Junos.
“First of all it’s awful. It’s harmful, it stems from misinformation about healthcare, our lives, who we are," Page said. "It's policies that go against advice of the Alberta medical association (Alberta Health Services) and the Canadian Pediatric Society.
"Seriously, this has serious impact on people’s lives, (like) the father you just saw and his son and all the individuals just trying to live their lives and thrive and grow in safe environments."
Page also reflected on the challenges he faced growing up in Nova Scotia.
"The first time I tried to talk about my sexuality at 15 my mom - who is so supportive and amazing now - yelled at me that 'that doesn’t exist!'" Page said. “So, forcibly outing children to their parents, taking away any sort of agency for them to be themselves particularly when it’s not backed by medical institutions, that’s -- it’s appalling. It’s appalling.”
The audience responded with loud applause.
Inspiration
During a question and answer session at the event, hosted by social media expert Mike Morrison, two trans fans stood and thanked Page for being an inspiration.
“Thank you too, because you being you I’m sure is inspiring so many people in your life and lets me live my life too," he said. "We’re all in this together.”
Page was recently recognized by Time Magazine as one of the most influential people of 2024.
Elliot’s (memoir) Pageboy ultimately landed at a time when conservatives were—as they still are—threatening trans people’s bodily autonomy and self-determination,” wrote Raquel Willis. “But Elliot remains undeterred, letting down the shield that his platform and privileges afford, and championing grassroots activist efforts like the Gen Z–guided Trans Prom at the U.S. Capitol. In whatever he does, Elliot is aware that his truth and power serve as a light in which others can see their own”
Last month, Page criticized Canada’s rollback of LGBTQ2+ rights onstage at the Juno Awards.
“We are at a time in history where the rights of LGBTQ2+ people are being revoked, restricted and eliminated throughout the world, and the effects are devastating,” Page said before presenting a humanitarian award to former Calgarians Tegan and Sara for their foundation’s work for 2SLGBTQ+ youth.
Page also described what it was like playing a trans character on Umbrella Academy who was transitioning at the same time Page was transitioning in real life.
"To me it all ended up making sense that journey that I simultaneously went on with that character but that was a pretty extraordinary thing,” he said. “It obviously meant so much to me.”
He was also asked about when he gets mis-gendered.
“Oh gosh,” he said. “My response is, when it’s very evident that someone has slipped or you know when it’s not intentional or what have you, it’s OK!
“It has happened a couple times when people come up and you wanna say ‘don’t go away feeling bad’.
“It’s really OK,” he added. “Maybe some people might think that too lenient or something but especially knowing I’ve been in people’s conscious for a certain while that it can be an adjustment.”
Page also talked about filming Inception in Kananaskis Country in Alberta, saying that was a tough one because he doesn’t do well at high altitude – he fainted while shooting a scene in the mountains.
With files from Teri Fikowski
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
BREAKING Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.
Person charged in random assault on actor Steve Buscemi in New York
A person wanted in connection with the random assault on actor Steve Buscemi on a New York City street earlier this month was taken into custody Friday, police said.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Australia's richest woman seeks removal of her portrait from exhibition
Art is subjective. And while many artists long to share their work with the world, there's no guarantee that the audience will understand it, or even like it.
Video appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs beating singer Cassie in hotel hallway in 2016
Security video aired by CNN appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs physically assaulting singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016.
A look back at Alberta's record-breaking wildfire season
By the end of the 2023 wildfire season in Alberta, 1,088 wildfires had burned more than 2.2 million hectares of land, and this year, the wildfire season is already in full swing.