Elliot Page has been spilling a lot of secrets in his upcoming memoir, Pageboy – and one of the most shocking revelations featured in the book happened after he came out as gay.
Back in 2014, several years before Page revealed he was transgender and goes by he/they pronouns, the actor came out as a lesbian.
"I’m here today because I am gay," the Umbrella Academy star told the audience at Time to THRIVE, a conference to highlight the importance of supporting the welfare of young LGBTQ+ people, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "And because maybe I can make a difference. To help others have an easier and more hopeful time. Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility."
Then in 2020, he took to social media as he revealed he was in the process of transitioning.
The post begins: "Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot. I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life."
It continues: "I can’t begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self.
"I’ve been endlessly inspired by so many in the trans community. Thank you for your courage, your generosity and ceaselessly working to make this world a more inclusive and compassionate place. I will offer whatever support I can and continue to strive for a more loving and equal society."
It's been nearly a decade since Page initially came out as gay and he has shared some of the disturbing reactions he received from other prominent figures in Hollywood.
According to an excerpt shared by People, the Oscar nominee said that an "a**hole actor at a party" told him homosexuality "doesn't exist" a few months after he came out as gay.
The actor also allegedly told Page that he'd have sex with him to make him realize he wasn't attracted to women.
The encounter took place at a Los Angeles birthday party attended by both Page and the unnamed male actor at the center of his allegation.
The actor allegedly told Page: "You aren't gay. That doesn't exist. You are just afraid of men."
He went on to say: "I'm going to f*** you to make you realize you aren’t gay."
Page added that he saw the actor some days later, recalling how the man told him: "I don't have a problem with gay people I swear." Page said he responded: "I think you might."
Speaking to People, the Inception star said he's "purposely not sharing his name. But he will hear about this and know it's him." He also said a number of people at the party witnessed the inappropriate exchange.
"I've had some version of that happen many times throughout my life," he told People. "A lot of queer and trans people deal with it incessantly. These moments that we often like don't talk about or we're supposed to just brush off, when actually it's very awful."
Page added: "I put that story in the book because it’s about highlighting the reality, the s*** we deal with and what gets sent to us constantly, particularly in environments that are predominantly cis and heterosexual.
"How we navigate that world where you either have more extreme, overt moments like that. Or you have the more, like, subtle jokes. [In Hollywood] these are very powerful people. They're the ones choosing what stories are being told and creating content for people to see all around the world."
