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Ellen Page asks people to 'connect the dots' in powerful speech on LGBT hate crimes

'The Vice President of America wishes I didn’t love my wife'

Jack Shepherd
Friday 01 February 2019 15:54 GMT
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Ellen Page condemns Donald Trump and Mike Pence in 'fired up' speech on Colbert

Ellen Page delivered a “fired up” speech accusing the president and vice president of discriminating against the LGBT community.

The actor, who married Emma Portner in January last year, became emotional as she accused Donald Trump and Mike Pence of spending their careers “trying to cause suffering”.

Appearing on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Thursday (31 January), the 31-year-old said: “I am fired up tonight, it feels impossible not to feel this way right now, with the president and Vice President Mike Pence, who 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.”

Pence served as governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017 and has long been accused of holding anti-LGBT views.

During the interview, Page – who was visibly emotional – climed Pence advocates conversion therapy, something a spokesman for the politician has previously denied, saying in 2016 that a “past campaign statement had been misinterpreted”.

Page went on to accuse Pence of attacking the LGBT community while he was governor, adding she believes there is a link between anti-gay rhetoric and violence being carried out against members of the community.

She pointed to Empire actor Jussie Smollett, who earlier this week was the victim of a homophobic and racist attack.

“Connect the dots,” Page continued. ”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?

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“Kids are going to be abused and they are going to kill themselves and people are going to be beaten on the street. I have travelled the world and I have met the most marginalised people you can meet.

“I am lucky to have this time and the privilege to say this. This needs to f**king stop.”

The audience burst out into sustained applause while an emotional Page collected herself. She was appearing on Colbert to promote her new Netflix show The Umbrella Academy.

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