Elliot Page has shared his gratitude “to be here and alive” after undergoing gender-affirming surgery.
The Umbrella Academy actor, 36, announced he was transgender in 2020. Three years on, Page has acknowledged that his experience as a trans man doesn’t represent the reality of “most trans lives”.
Ahead of the release of his new memoir, Pageboy, he told People: “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.”
The Juno star went on to discuss how important it is for the transgender community to be represented as he spoke about the harrowing struggles many of them have faced over the years and continue to.
He added: “I think it’s crucial, I think we need to feel represented and see ourselves, you know, that’s not something I had like 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.”
Despite facing “difficult moments” since coming out as transgender, Page admitted that he has a lot of gratitude for his life right now.
The Inception star said: “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.”
When Page announced he was transgender in December 2020, he wrote on Instagram: “Hi friends. I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they, and my name is Elliot.”
Since then, the Hard Candy actor has documented his transition journey, revealing in April 2021 that he underwent a “life-saving” top surgery, a procedure for transgender men to remove breast tissue.
Speaking to Oprah Winfrey following the surgery, Page said the procedure was “life changing” and expressed how important it is to support health care for transgender people.
He shared: “I want people to know that not only has it been life changing for me, I do believe it is life-saving, and it’s the case for so many people.”
Page explained that the procedure had given him a new zest for life “because it is such a freeing, freeing experience. This is incredibly new. I feel like I haven’t gotten to be myself since I was 10 years old.”
