During an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night, out actress Ellen Page became emotional as she spoke about the damage Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have inflicted on the LGBTQ community.
The appearance began on an upbeat note as Colbert congratulated Page on her one year anniversary of marrying her wife.
Colbert asked how she sees the current environment in Hollywood for LGBTQ people since she publicly came out five years ago, because, Hollywood = Progressive, don't you know?
Page couldn't stop herself from smiling even as he finished the question.
"I mean, look, there's clear evidence that it has changed, that there's some progress; that there's some more representation," said the former Oscar nominee. "But honestly, I think we really need to hurry up."
After talking on environmental issues and the disproportionate way climate change affects marginalized people, Page segued into a passionate takedown of Donald Trump and Mike Pence, connecting their hateful, incessant attacks on LGBTQ people to the violent hate crime on Empire actor Jussie Smollett earlier this week.
“Sorry, I’m like really fired up tonight. But it feels impossible to not feel this way right now, 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. He wanted to ban that in Indiana, he believes in ‘conversion therapy,’ he has hurt LGBTQ people so badly as the [governor] of Indiana.
“Connect the dots. This is what happens. 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.
"I have traveled the world and I have met the most marginalized people you can meet. I am lucky to have this time and the privilege to say this.
"This needs to f**king stop.”
The silence between Page's thoughts is raw and palpable. Kudos to Colbert for not jumping in.
And as the 31-year-old ended her impassioned plea, the audience erupted in a roar of approval.
The clip has been trending on Twitter for several hours. Watch below.
