Ellen Page, famous for her roles in Juno and Inception, recently came out as a lesbian in a speech at “Time to THRIVE,” a national conference in Las Vegas that encourages the “safety, inclusion and well-being of LGBTQ youth.” Page, 26, started her speech right away with, “I’m here today because I’m gay,” and quickly added, “and because maybe I can make a difference.” Page admits in her speech that she felt a “personal obligation and social responsibility” and that she is “tired of lying by omission.”

Page admits to suffering for years because she was too scared to be out, and felt the weight of the crushing standards of Hollywood. “You have ideas planted in your head that tell you how you have to act, how you have to dress and who you have to be. I have been trying to push back, to be authentic, to follow my heart, but it can be hard,” she says. She went on to celebrate examples of out celebrities that stand as role models, including football player Michael Sam and musicians Tegan and Sara.

Page also commented on the harshness of bullying in the LGBTQ community and how it can effect mental stability: “I know there are people in this room who go to school every day and get treated like shit for no reason. Trying to create that mental picture of what on earth is going to happen to you can crush you a little bit every day. It is toxic and painful and deeply unfair.”

Following her speech, The Human Rights Campaign tweeted out their support for Ellen:

Congratulations, @EllenPage for taking the steps to live openly and come out as lesbian. #comingout #timetoTHRIVE http://t.co/PneoSUunRk

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) February 15, 2014

Image via Wikimedia Commons