The Umbrella Academy star Ellen Page used her appearance on Thursday's The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to slam Vice President Mike Pence for his anti-LGBT rhetoric and urge viewers to "connect the dots" between the Trump administration's policies and the recent attack on Empire star Jussie Smollett.
"I'm really fired up tonight," Page told host Stephen Colbert toward the end of their impassioned interview. "It feels impossible to not feel this way right now with the President and the Vice President, Mike Pence, who wishes I couldn't be married. Let's just be clear. The Vice President of America wishes I didn't have the love with my wife. He wanted to ban that in Indiana, he believes in conversion therapy, he has hurt LGBTQ people so badly as the government of Indiana. And I think the thing we need to know -- and I hope my show Gaycation did this in terms of connecting the dots what happened the other day to Jussie. I don't know him personally, I send him all of my love."
Page continued with rising emotion, "Connect the dots, this is what happens. If you are in a position of power and you hate people and you wanna cause suffering to them, you go through the trouble, you spend your career trying to cause suffering, what do you think is going to happen? Kids are going to be abused and they're going to kill themselves and people are going to be beaten on the street. I have traveled the world and I have met the most marginalized people you could meet. I am lucky to have this time and the privilege to say this. This needs to f--king stop."
On Tuesday morning, Smollett was attacked in Chicago by two unidentified assailants who reportedly shouted racist and homophobic slurs at the actor, poured bleach on him and wrapped a rope around Smollett's neck. Smollett later told police that the two men allegedly shouted "This is MAGA Country" during the assault, a reference to President Donald Trump's campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again."
Numerous celebrities and activists have spoken out in support of Smollett. The actor himself also released a statement on Friday, the first public comments he made since being hospitalized. "These types of cowardly attacks are happening to my sisters, brothers and non-gender conforming siblings daily," Smollett said, in part, to Essence. "I am not and should not be looked upon as an isolated incident. We will talk soon and I will address all details of this horrific incident, but I need a moment to process. Most importantly, during times of trauma, grief and pain, there is still a responsibility to lead with love. It's all I know. And that can't be kicked out of me."
As governor of Indiana, Pence supported anti-gay legislation -- including, as reported by TIME, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which "would have banned discrimination against people based on sexual orientation." Pence has also spoken out against gay marriage.
Page stars in The Umbrella Academy which debuts Friday, Feb. 8 on Netflix.
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