Mariam Sharia
Ellen Page is fed up.
The actress appeared on the “Late Show” Thursday night to call out President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for promoting hate and inciting violence against the LGBTQ community. She single out Pence in particular for his long track record of effecting legislation harmful to gay rights (the VP, who believes in conversion therapy, once called gay marriage a sign of “societal collapse.”)
“The vice president of America wishes I didn’t have the love with my wife,” Page said, pointing to a picture of herself next to her wife Emma Portner.
“If you are 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?” she asked, referencing the recent vicious hate crime perpetrated against Empire star Jussie Smollett, who was beaten by two men early Tuesday morning as they yelled racist and homophobic insults at him before tying a noose around his neck.
“Kids are going to be abused and they’re going to kill themselves, and people are going to be beaten on the street,” said Page.
.@EllenPage is fed up with leaders who promote hatred and intolerance. #LSSC pic.twitter.com/apxXzye5SF
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) February 1, 2019
“I have traveled the world and I have met the most marginalized people you could meet. I am lucky to have this time and the privilege to say this,” Page added. “This needs to f***ing stop.”
Vox points out that there is data supporting Page’s claims that the Trump administration promotes violence against marginalized communities.
A study last year by Loyola University Chicago School of Law found that Trump’s rise to power was associated with “a statistically significant surge in reported hate crimes across the United States”— even after they controlled their data for other variables.
“It was not just Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric throughout the political campaign that caused hate crimes to increase,” researchers wrote. “It was Trump’s subsequent election as President of the United States that validated this rhetoric in the eyes of perpetrators and fueled the hate crime surge.”
Page’s impassioned plea resonated on social media.
I felt this https://t.co/2ijljD1gH7
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) February 1, 2019
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/oYLyRtY43K
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) February 1, 2019
Thank you @EllenPage https://t.co/NkCqZHMQMk
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) February 1, 2019
When you use your brain to speak from your heart, the truth usually comes out. https://t.co/RgYERldzJo
— Randy Rainbow (@RandyRainbow) February 1, 2019
I caught this on tv last night while doing laundry in a rare moment of solitude in my house, and I had to stop and compose myself and truly take in the sincerity and despair in her words. Ellen Page has been such a huge role model throughout my life and I’m never disappointed https://t.co/LV0glJYwvd
— shelpy keezer (@litttlest) February 1, 2019
Always been a fan of this talented lady. But this blew me away.She’s so right.Our leaders both in the states and Europe are allowing hate to grow. A Rise of nationalism is just hate.Plain & simple.There are NOT good people on both sides.Trump & Pence you’ve had your 15 mins https://t.co/68MYIDPN8q
— Sean Maguire (@sean_m_maguire) February 1, 2019
A thing I love so much about Colbert is how often he lets his female guests just occupy quiet.
When Gaga talked about PTSD.
When Ellen Page is collecting her thoughts here.He just sits with the quiet which men rarely do IRL let alone on network television which hates silence https://t.co/yUBkM86bql
— Julie S. Lalonde (@JulieSLalonde) February 1, 2019
We pivoting from Ellen to Ellen fam. Not only did she draw the clear and violent thruline from your homophobic jokes to people dying but I appreciate someone who is visibly emotional over their community suffering like this https://t.co/QrlIKa6B1s
— Muna (@Muna_Mire) February 1, 2019
This broke my heart and made me cry. I will never understand people who use their power to systematically spread hate.
I will always stand with and fight for my beautiful LGBTQ 🏳️🌈 family.
— Ida Skibenes ❄️ (@ida_skibenes) February 1, 2019
Well said, Ellen Page! Mike Pence is an insane zealot who has set LGBTQ rights back years and it’s important that people speak up. Hate crimes have spiked under this administration so it is literally a life-or-death matter.
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) February 1, 2019
