Juno star Ellen Page comes out: 'I'm tired of hiding'

Actress Ellen Page comes out as gay at the Human Rights Campaign's Time to Thrive Conference. Photo/AP

Oscar nominated actress Ellen Page has announced that she is gay while giving a speech at a packed Las Vegas conference for LGBT teens.

The 26-year-old Juno star told the audience at the Time to Thrive conference that she was "tired of hiding" and "lying by omission" by not disclosing her true sexuality.

Her speech drew roaring support from the audience at the Time to Thrive conference, which was sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign.

Page, who in 2007 played a pregnant teen in Juno, has also starred in Inception, To Rome with Love and X-Men: The Last Stand and is the latest in a series of high profile celebrities to publicly reveal their sexuality.

"I'm here today because I am gay. And because ... maybe I can make a difference," she said. "To help others have an easier and more hopeful time. Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility."

Page said she had suffered for years because of having to hide her sexuality while in the public eye.

"My spirit suffered, my mental health suffered and my relationships suffered," she said. "And I'm standing here today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain."

The Human Rights Campaign, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy group that posted her speech on its website, congratulated Page for completing the "deeply personal and arduous journey" of coming out.

Page later took to Twitter to thank the group for their support.

Thank you @HRC and everyone for all the love and support. X

The actress mentioned gay musicians Tegan and Sara Quin and transgender actress Laverne Cox as examples of courage, and hailed American football star Michael Sam who recently came out as gay as a "hero".

Page concluded her emotional speech by thanking the audience for "inspiring" her and giving her hope.

"Thank you. Thank for inspiring me. Thank you for giving me hope, and please keep changing the world for people like me."

- Independent