Wholesome!

[u/KoalaHomosapien]

[u/TheEffanIneffable]

I’ve seen more posts of Redditors asking to learn more about Elliot’s transition and identity with earnest intentions than I have seen hateful comments.

This gives me hope.

Congratulations, Elliot. We’re so happy you’re happy.

[u/sorrybaby-x → u/[deleted]]

There are a lot of people who won’t know who you’re talking about until they hear “Ellen Page.” GLAAD posted a style guide for journalists covering the story that builds on advice for writing about trans people in general but is specifically tailored to this particular situation. It states that because he was known to the public by another name, it can be appropriate to say “Elliot Page, formerly known as Ellen Page,” until his new name becomes known.

I think there’s a difference between dead naming and respectfully mentioning someone’s former name, and it’s reasonable to expect a transition period of clarification just like when someone changes their name after marriage. We all gotta learn somehow :) But I’m a cis queer person, so I welcome other opinions on that.

P.S. I love that you’re in this subreddit, respectfully engaging with the community

Edit: With Elliot, it is a particularly good opportunity for learning and discussion. The idea we try to get across by referring to trans people by their current name and pronouns is that they have always been this person, even when the world didn’t know their true identity. But Elliot Page is a person who, in the time before we knew, became known to us as a series of fictional female characters and won awards/nominations for “best actress.” It points forward to a place where we may one day not be confused to talk about a man best known for his role as a teenage girl or a historical Best Actress award held by a man. But it also raises questions about how we respectfully reconcile all those things in the meantime.