A Year After Coming Out, Ellen Page is Proud to Star in a Lesbian Film

Photography by Ruven Afanador for Out Magazine

Ellen Page came out a year and a half ago, and since then, she's become a strong advocate for LGBT rights. She co-stars with Julianne Moore in Freeheld, the film that comes out this weekend, about a lesbian couple struggling to gain pension rights for Ellen's character (her domestic parter) after Julianne's character becomes diagnosed with cancer. The movie is based on a true story that happened only 10 years ago. 

Ellen went on Stephen Colbert last night and spoke about how filming Freeheld changed her life, and how coming out was an important step in her life.

Colbert plays a clip from the film, and says jokingly, "It's almost as if lesbian couples are like all other couples. Isn't it crazy that way?"

After coming out, Colbert asks her if she feels a burden to represent the LGBT community, and she said:

"I feel so grateful to feel how I feel now compared to how I felt when I was a closeted person. It's not a nice place to be. I was sad. It is toxic and I wish that no one had to live that way."

She is aware of her position as a celebrity, but wants to use her platform to help others:

"I am a very privileged gay person and those who are affected the most in our community are the most vulnerable and I feel so grateful to talk about things or share stories or have connections with people who've been touched with me coming out, which is an incredible moment to have with a human being... I feel gratitude."

Watch the clip for yourself here: 

Photo: Styling by Grant Woolhead. Market Editor: Michael Cook. Hair: Ted Gibson at Jed Root. Makeup: Matin at Ray Brown Productions