Ellen Page attends Pride flashmob in Jamaica despite fears of violence

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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.

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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]”

Ellen Page attends Pride flashmob in Jamaica despite fears of violence

J-FLAG said: “Award winning actress, Ellen Page is in Jamaica for ‪#‎PRiDEJA2015‬.

Ellen Page attends Pride flashmob in Jamaica despite fears of violence

“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!”

Ellen Page attends Pride flashmob in Jamaica despite fears of violence

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.”

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