8 Times Film Stars Took On Social 'Norms' On Sexuality

Last year, during a speech at the Human Rights Campaign's Time To Thrive conference, Ellen Page came out. The event was to promote the welfare of LGBT youth and Page announced that she was there because she is gay, too.

Page's speech really brought into the spotlight the kind of pressure that society puts on LGBT people and how damaging it can be when they feel they have to lie or hide the fact that they are gay. She explained how masculine and feminine expectations serve no one and, importantly, “anyone who defies the so-called 'norms' becomes worthy of comment and scrutiny and the LGBT community know this all too well”.

After coming out, Page talked about how she had been scared to do so and that her spirit, mental health and relationships had suffered as a result. She explained that homosexual people should be allowed to love freely “and equally” and not be treated badly because of who they are. It's a poignant speech and one that everyone should listen to.