Elliot Page is in a bit of an odd position, he says, being one of the most visible transgender men in the world.

He害羞草研究所檚 in a better place than ever before. The Halifax-born actor is able to be his full self without reservation. But at the same time, he has publicly declared himself part of a group that is under attack.

害羞草研究所淭he visibility is complicated,害羞草研究所� he told The Canadian Press in a recent interview. 害羞草研究所淣o doubt we need to see ourselves and our joy reflected, and I know how much that害羞草研究所檚 helped me on my journey. But of course, that can also lead to backlash, and does lead to the most vulnerable members of our community being affected the most in that way.害羞草研究所�

That dissonance plays out in his memoir 害羞草研究所淧ageboy,害羞草研究所� published by HarperCollins Canada earlier this month.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just trying to achieve a balance in my own life.害羞草研究所�

The book gives readers a non-linear look at his life, exploring his childhood in Halifax and early entry into acting, the fame that came from his breakout role in 害羞草研究所淛uno害羞草研究所� and the trauma that often comes with being queer in Hollywood.

He wrote of several sexual assaults over the years, of public speculation about his sexual orientation in his youth, of harassment he faced when he came out as a lesbian in 2014 and of incredulity when he announced he was transgender six years later.

The through line is his understanding, only sometimes conscious, that he was never a girl or woman.

He was more confident in that knowledge as a child, until his parents shut it down. Puberty also had a dampening effect, and with it came the onset of gender dysphoria 害羞草研究所� what he described as 害羞草研究所渁 profound discomfort and confusion and incongruence with my mind and body.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淪omething in me always knew, but it was as if I was always talking myself out of it, figuring out a way around it because it just felt too big,害羞草研究所� he said.

It was the COVID-19 pandemic that planted the 害羞草研究所渟eeds of hope, the whispers of a better future,害羞草研究所� he wrote. Seeing his reflection when he wore a face mask, he looked like the man he always knew himself to be.

From there, it was quick. Far quicker than the process of coming out as a lesbian, which happened incrementally over the course of years. He was mostly closeted until 2014, but had started dating women in his youth, including during the filming of 害羞草研究所淛uno害羞草研究所� in 2007.

In the near-decade since his first coming-out, the landscape in Hollywood has changed 害羞草研究所� though not a lot, he noted. But he害羞草研究所檚 also more secure, making the coming out process smoother this time around.

It hasn害羞草研究所檛 been easy, but it was necessary.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 be lying if I didn害羞草研究所檛 acknowledge that sometimes it can be overwhelming right now,害羞草研究所� he said.

As society has become more accepting of the LGBTQ community, a backlash has developed and segments of the population have attempted to claw back recent gains.

There害羞草研究所檚 been an onslaught of anti-trans legislation in the United States, where Page now lives, with more than a dozen states banning or restricting gender-affirming care for minors.

And while it害羞草研究所檚 tempting to think of Canada as a tolerant, accepting haven for LGBTQ people, Page notes that害羞草研究所檚 not necessarily the case.

害羞草研究所淭he climate is slightly better, but emphasis on the word slightly,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淐anada still has so far to go. We害羞草研究所檙e seeing that very loud, aggressive, anti-trans rhetoric, behaviour, full-blown attacks (and) bills being set forth and passed. We害羞草研究所檙e seeing that spread up to Canada.害羞草研究所�

He pointed to the example of New Brunswick, where teachers are now required to obtain parental consent before they can use the preferred pronouns and names of transgender and non-binary students under the age of 16.

害羞草研究所淲e need to be really, really careful about how we害羞草研究所檙e framing the conversation in Canada, because it害羞草研究所檚 a slippery slope,害羞草研究所� Page said.

Conversations on social media can be particularly vitriolic, a constant stream of hate. Page said he largely ignores it.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not something that I want to invite into my life and my space,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 know who I am.害羞草研究所�

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