Juno's Ellen Page: 'I Am Gay'

Actress Ellen Page just raised the bar on coming-out announcements. "I’m here today because I am gay," the 26-year-old said last night during a moving speech at a Human Rights Campaign event in Vegas, reports 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." Page, whose breakout performance came in Juno, told the Time to Thrive audience that "I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission," reports Entertainment Weekly. The crowd responded with a standing ovation.

"I suffered for years because I was scared to be out," said Page. "My spirit suffered, my mental health suffered and my relationships suffered. And I’m standing here today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain." Page also lauded the basic principle that drives the HRC—"the simple fact that this world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another. If we took just 5 minutes to recognize each other’s beauty, instead of attacking each other for our differences." The HRC posted the full text of her remarks to its Tumblr. (More Elliot Page stories.)