After Elliot Page published a heartfelt open letter coming out as transgender, someone special to him has extended public words of affirmation: his spouse.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Emma Portner, a professional dancer and choreographer, shared an image of Page’s message, along with her own note of support. “I am so proud of @elliotpage,” Portner wrote. “Trans, queer and non-binary people are a gift to this world. I also ask for patience & privacy but that you join me in the fervent support of trans life every single day.”
“Elliot’s existence is a gift in and of itself,” she added. “Shine on sweet E. Love you so much.”
Portner and Page’s relationship dates back as far as early 2018, when Page announced that they were married. Page first connected with Portner after she caught his eye on Instagram, and in a December 2018 interview with them., she said her relationship with Page has inspired her artistry.
“I’m much softer now and able to express intimacy more genuinely in my art,” she said at the time. “[Elliot] and I have an indefatigable connection and this undying desire to be near each other. It cannot ever be perfect, but we really respect each other. Love can’t flow without respect. [Elliot] is the best, and I still cry every time we part ways for work. I probably will forever, and I’m okay with that.”
Despite some predictable online trolling, Page has received an outpouring of support from various entertainers, media companies and organizations, including current and former collaborators.
Page, who currently stars as Vanya Hargreeves in Netflix’s Umbrella Academy, received a cheerful shout out from the streaming network, which tweeted, “So proud of our superhero! WE LOVE YOU ELLIOT! Can’t wait to see you return in season 3!” Show insiders told Variety that Page will continue to play a cisgender woman in the series, which was renewed for a third season last month, and that there are no plans to change his character’s gender identity.
In a statement to Variety, GLAAD rebuffed any ideas about recasting Page’s role with a cisgender woman — noting that transgender actors have been and are able to portray both cisgender and trans people. As highlighted by the recently released Netflix documentary Disclosure, trans people have historically faced significant barriers in the entertainment industry, including not being allowed to read for trans roles, let alone cis ones, whereas trans characters have been portrayed by many cisgender actors, often in ways that have misrepresented or disrespected the community.
