Ellen Page attends Pride flashmob in Jamaica despite fears of violence
Hollywood actress Ellen Page has attended a Pride event in Jamaica – despite warnings that activists face vigilante violence.
The Juno and X-Men star came out as gay last year in an emotional speech, telling rights activists: “I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission.”
The 28-year-old has not let her Hollywood status get in the way of her dedication to LGBT rights – yesterday attending a Pride event in Jamaica, where homosexuality is illegal and activists face regular violence and persecution.
Gay people face being jailed for 10 years in Jamaica, but the Jamaica Forum of Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) held its first Pride celebration over the weekend.
It was too dangerous to hold a fully-fledged parade in the country, but a Pride ‘flash mob’ was held in Kingston over the weekend.
Ellen Page posted a photo to her Instagram from the event, writing: “Jamaica. Pride. Flash mob. [hearts] [rainbow emojis]”
J-FLAG said: “Award winning actress, Ellen Page is in Jamaica for #PRiDEJA2015.
“Our Programme Officer, Karen Lloyd took a pic with her after our fantastic flash mob this morning at Emancipation Park. You might know her from Juno, Hard Candy, the X-Men series and American Crime. Happy PRiDE!”
The group also shared a message from the Jamaican Minister of Justice, Mark Golding, urging “respect” for the event.
Mr Golding wrote: “As the LGBT community embarks on a week of activities to build awareness of the rights and needs of their members, I urge all Jamaicans to respect their right to do so in peace, and hope that the week’s activities will further the goal of making Jamaica a place where ‘Out of Many, One People’ is a fundamental guiding principle by which we all abide.”
