Appearing this week on Chelsea
Handler's Netflix talk show, out actress Ellen Page reminded Handler
and her guests that anti-gay hate rhetoric is a “common thing.”
In denouncing Sunday's attack on a gay
nightclub in Orlando, Page said such rhetoric leads to violence.
“The reality is that violence toward
LGBT people, this is a common thing,” Page said.
“Hate crimes toward LGBT people,
extremely anti-gay, anti-bi, anti-trans rhetoric – that is
constantly creating a poisonous environment which leads toward people
hating themselves.”
“It leads to people being violent
toward one another, to bullying, to abuse. It really needs to stop,
because people are really, really struggling.”
“They deserve to live freely and love
freely and not be afraid,” the Oscar-nominated actress added.