Ellen Page Calls Out Mike Pence in Emotional Speech

During an appearance on Stephen Colbert's Late Show Thursday night, Ellen Page gave an emotional speech reminding viewers that LGBTQ+ people are under attack every day and that a culture that puts homophobic politicians in power is the root of the problem.

The actress, who was appearing to promote her new Netflix show Umbrella Academy, began by talking about the imminent dangers of climate change. "If it was a movie, we'd have Bruce Willis in a suit, like talking about something -- please cast me," she joked. "Please, Amy Adams, save us."

She added that climate change isn't up for debate, and neither is the attack on Jussie Smollett. But, as Page explained, it's impossible not to feel the impact of Smolett's attack as a queer person in this political climate, "with the president and the vice president, Mike Pence, who, like, wishes I couldn't be married. Let's just be clear: The vice president of America wishes I didn't have the love with my wife," she said, holding up a photo of her and her wife, Emma Portner. "He wanted to ban that in Indiana, he believes in 'conversion therapy,' he has hurt LGBTQ people so badly as the [governor] of Indiana."

Page pivoted back to Smollett, who she said she doesn't know but sends all her love to, and make the obvious connected between his attack and the effect having anti-LGBTQ+ politicians in power has on the culture at large. "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? Kids are going to be abused and they're gonna kill themselves, and people are going to be beaten on the street," she said, clearly holding back tears."

"I have traveled the world and I have met the most marginalized people you could meet," referencing her VICELAND show Gaycation, on which she traveled to countries around the world, investigating how they each treat LGBTQ+ people. "I am lucky to have this time and the privilege to say this. This needs to fucking stop."

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