Elliot Page and the impossible promise of transition

At the world premiere of The Odyssey in London, Elliot Page, formerly known as Ellen Page, made an appearance. Page’s role in the highly anticipated Christopher Nolan adaptation has been controversial. A biological female who identifies as a male, Page plays a male role. But the movie’s release isn’t as shocking as what fans saw at the premiere.

Page, dressed in a brown suit that was too large, smiled for cameras, posed with colleagues, and appeared awkward while descending the stairs. It’s not as if Page has trouble walking or maneuvering. The issue is that Page is trying to present herself to the public as a male. Reportedly standing 5-foot-1, the star is diminutive in stature with no overtly masculine characteristics. The actor has undergone top surgery to remove her breasts and takes testosterone. But still, Page does not come across as male.

Most importantly, Page is not and never will be a male.

It’s easy to react to Page’s appearance and mannerisms with a measure of unbelief and near-amusement. After all, the entire display feels incredibly forced. It’s thrust upon us by a secular society that’s so eager to appease those in the trans community at the expense of reality and biological truth. On social media, Page posts topless photos as a trans male with the top surgery scars clearly visible. It’s a reminder of what we’re told to forget. If Elliot Page, born Ellen Page, believes she is a male, then we’re supposed to not only accept it but support it. This is how culture begins to deteriorate.

Watching Page at the premiere is a performance in itself and a sad one at that. There is a measure of unease to Page that is impossible to overlook.

In interviews, Page has spoken of experiencing gender dysphoria growing up. In a 2023 interview, Page said, “Dysphoria used to be especially rife in the summer. No layers, just a T-shirt, or layers and oh so sweaty, constantly looking down, readjusting my oversized T.” For whatever reason, Page felt uncomfortable in a female body.

Now, several years after transitioning, that body is still female. Hormonal and surgical manipulation do not alter DNA. The idea of “transitioning” is an impossible one. No matter how one fights against their biological makeup, it cannot change.

While Page’s appearance at the premiere is a sad one, it remains one Page actively chose. No one forced Page to disrupt hormones or have breasts surgically removed.

Elliot Page called the negative attention following transition “unfortunate.” | AP

" data-large-file="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ap22087298884130-scaled-e1783612202943.jpg?w=696" src="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ap22087298884130-scaled.jpg?w=696" alt="Elliot Page called the negative attention following transition "unfortunate."" class="wp-image-466344">Elliot Page called the negative attention following transitioning “unfortunate.” (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

However, there’s an entire societal complex that encourages such behavior and says gender dysphoria can be addressed only by lying to oneself. It’s both a mental illness and a cancer combined into one. Those of us who prize truth and biological reality should be undeterred by this modern-day campaign to warp our minds.

I don’t doubt that Page has experienced discomfort in her own body. Page is neither the first nor the last to feel this way. In fact, it is almost a rite of passage to feel as though one’s body doesn’t match the inner person. This is a feature of puberty, and it can and often does extend into adulthood.

But none of this should result in drug manipulation or surgical mutilation. Each of us has inherent worth that is in no way affected by the things we feel. It is imperative that we, in this looks-obsessed society, highlight a major truth: None of us was born in the wrong body. Believing those lies leads us to make either wrong choices for ourselves or support the wrong decisions of others. Neither is good.

THE SUPREME COURT’S DEFERENCE TO BIOLOGY

It’s heartbreaking, not amusing, to watch the actor formerly known as Ellen Page publicly try to present as a male. Both Page’s colleagues and the entertainment industry are only happy to affirm Page’s continued delusion. Now, Page exists in an odd in-between space where it’s painfully obvious she’s still a female trying to cosplay as a man.

Page is a very public example of the transgender movement. Unfortunately, the same story is repeated in the lives of countless others who have been convinced they were not good enough as they were created. One person embracing these lies is tragic enough. The greater tragedy is that an entire culture now applauds them.