Last weekend, the Oscar-nominated actor, writer, and transgender activist Elliot Page delivered an eventful of inspiration at a sold-out, third-anniversary celebration for Transhealth — the Bay State-based, trans-led, gender-affirming health care center for trans and gender-diverse people and their families.
Reports the Boston Globe:
On Sunday, Page needed no introduction at the Academy of Music Theatre — a full house turned out to see the Canadian actor, now 37 and an outspoken advocate for transgender rights, participate in a “fireside chat” and birthday benefit celebrating Transhealth, a Northampton-based health care center for trans and gender-diverse individuals and families that opened in May 2021.
“Congrats on coming out!,” said Transhealth president and CEO Dallas Ducar. She gently wove the actor through an intimate, wide-ranging conversation that touched on everything from Page’s childhood in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to his love of music to his experience navigating fame as an openly trans man (the first to appear solo on the cover of “Time” magazine) and his thoughts on why the right wing is “driven nuts by our joy,” as Ducar put it.
“I don’t really understand,” she said softly, getting a loud laugh from the audience. “But maybe you could shine a light . . . Why don’t they want us to be happy?”
“I’ll do my best,” Page said.
Anti-trans discrimination — and trans resilience — were big themes of the night, beginning with opening remarks by Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, who called Ducar, a trans woman who was previously the clinical lead for mental health services at the Massachusetts General Hospital Transgender Health Program, “a trailblazer,” adding that “her vision and her compassion have made Massachusetts a better place.” …
“One of the big things that I keep going back to, that I wish someone had said to me, is: That shame you’re feeling is not yours; it’s theirs,” said Page. “You are awesome, and magical, and exactly who you should be.”
Read the complete Boston Globe story here.
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