After recently delivering a stirring speech on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert about the violence and hatred directed towards members of the LGBTIQ+ community, actor Ellen Page found it hard to stay silent when Chris Pratt appeared on the same program.
Pratt is a member of the Hillsong church, notable for its anti-LGBTIQ+ beliefs. Leader of the Australian church, Brian Houston, has previously stated that "we do not affirm a gay lifestyle and because of this we do not knowingly have actively gay people in positions of leadership"
Taking to social media, Page expressed her frustration that Colbert's interview on Pratt didn't touch on his association with the international organisation.
“Oh. K. Um,” Page tweeted on Friday. “But his church is infamously anti lgbtq so maybe address that too?”
She continued: “If you are a famous actor and you belong to an organization that hates a certain group of people, don’t be surprised if someone simply wonders why it’s not addressed. Being anti LGBTQ is wrong, there aren’t two sides. The damage it causes is severe. Full stop.
“If lgbtq+ people are expressing their pain, their trauma, their experiences… maybe just try and listen?” she added. “Open your heart, stop being defensive and have compassion. It’s a beautiful and life changing feeling, empathy.”
Page earned praise when, two weeks ago, she spoke out about the political climate in the United States and the ongoing violence faced by LGBTIQ+ people - specifically holding Vice President Mike Pence to account.
“If you are in a position of power, and you hate people, and you want to cause suffering for them, you go through the trouble, you spend your career trying to cause suffering - what do you think is going to happen?” she said.
“Kids are going to be abused, and they’re going to kill themselves. And people are going to be beaten in the street. I have traveled the world and I have met the most marginalised people you can meet. I am lucky to have this time and this privilege to say this.
"This needs to f*cking stop.”
You can watch Ellen Page's Gaycation series now on SBS On Demand.
