Actress, activist, and film producer Ellen Page joined Stephen Colbert on Late Show this past week and used the platform to express her views on several social, environmental and political issues. The Juno star is a self-described “pro-choice feminist” who came out as gay in 2014 during a Human Rights Campaign speech. In her spare time she does things like protest dictators in Burma.
Page has a particularly strong repugnance towards the homophobic pseudo-Christian vice president—Mike Pence. Page tells Colbert, whose Late Show reaches over three million viewers, about the kind of pain Pence continues to cast upon the LGBTQ community.
“The Vice President of America wishes I didn’t have the love with my wife. He wanted to ban that in Indiana. He believes in conversion therapy. He has hurt LGBTQ people so badly.”
As governor of Indiana, Pence signed the Religions Freedom Restoration Act, which on the basis of religion, allowed businesses to reject and/or discriminate against the LGBTQ community. It was later edited. There are many more anti-LGBTQ political actions Pence either introduced or partook in while governor. But his hatred before becoming governor was even more blatant and stone-hearted while he was in Congress. Here is one section from his “American Dream.” (I probably should add a warning. Some of this is so repulsive and ugly it could trigger PTSD for those suffering/still suffering from anti-LGBTQ abuses.)
- Congress should oppose any effort to put gay and lesbian relationships on an equal legal status with heterosexual marriage.
- Congress should oppose any effort to recognize homosexuals as a "discreet and insular minority" entitled to the protection of anti-discrimination laws similar to those extended to women and ethnic minorities.
- Congress should support the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act only after completion of an audit to ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus. Resources should be directed toward those institutions, which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.
And then we have Pence’s take on homosexuality, and the military.
Homosexuality is incompatible with military service because the presence of homosexuals in the ranks weakens unit cohesion.
They say to choose your battles. Ellen Page picked the right battle.
Page became noticed globally after her role in Juno. With over 30 movies now in her cuff, the 31-year-old is also getting involved with film production. Paige was angered when she spoke of the many marginalized people she met around the world while filming her new show Gaycation. But she was visibly shaken during the interview with Colbert when talking about the brutal attack against Jussie Smollett. The openly gay Empire actor was beaten and had a noose put around his neck as his white assailants, in ski masks, yelled, “This is MAGA country!” Translation: “This is Trump’s America.”
“Connect the dots,” said Page.
“This is what happens if you’re in a position of power and you hate people, and you want to cause suffering to them. You go through the trouble, you spend your career trying to cause suffering. What do you think is going to happen?”
“I’m lucky to have this time and the privilege to say this”
This needs to fucking stop.”
Here is Ellen Page with Stephen Colbert on Late Show.
CNN reached out to Pence for a response to Page. Those guys. Thank you, Ellen Page.