Elliot Page
Oscar-nominated actor Elliot Page, most famous for his roles in Juno, Inception, and Netflix’s Umbrella Academy, has shared his truth: he is transgender. “I am trans,” he said in a recent tweet, “my pronouns are he/they, and my name is Elliot.”
In his post, he talks about the happiness, gratitude, good fortune, and love he is feeling as he lives this truth: “And the more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I dream, the more my heart grows, and the more I thrive.” Page’s announcement reminds us just how much mental health is tied to self-love. One of the kindest gifts we can give to ourselves is acceptance, acceptance of ourselves, acceptance of our strengths, acceptance of our flaws. When we accept who we are, inside and out, happiness can feel much closer.
But happiness is not always easy; it’s not always simple. As Page says, “My joy is real, but it is also fragile. The truth is, despite feeling profoundly happy right now and knowing how much privilege I carry, I am also scared. I’m scared of the invasiveness, the hate, the “jokes,” and of violence.” This reminds us that mental health is intersectional. It is affected by many things that exist inside and outside of ourselves, resulting in things that we can and cannot control. Even as we come to accept ourselves as holistic beings, other things can get in the way, like the bigotry of a politician or the ignorance of a stranger. Page shows us that these things are not our fault, and he asks for patience as he deals with these issues himself. Giving ourselves time, offering ourselves patience, and asking others for the same are examples of the kindness we should grant others and ourselves.
Page ends his post with this: “To all trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse, and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you, and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better.” This better world Page speaks of is much awaited, much needed, and much deserved for the trans, nonbinary, and LGBTQ+ communities, for the mental health communites, and for all communities that intersect therein. As we work towards bettering the mental health of ourselves, of our friends and families, and of our communities, we should remind ourselves that we’re also working towards a healthier world, a happier world, a better world. Towards this aim, Page is doing his part, and we strive to do the same.