Not Courageous at All

Speaking at the recent Human Rights Campaign's "Time to Thrive" conference for LGBT counselors, actress Ellen Page made what many have called a "brave decision". She decided to be open about being a lesbian in the hope that doing so would make a difference to those who are tired of "lying by omission", as she put it. Why is it that when a celebrity comes out and declares to the press and to the world that he or she is gay they often act as if they are taking a controversial step or somehow putting themselves in jeopardy? Ellen Page wasn't being brave. She was not taking a risk.  She will not be black listed. She faces no recrimination.

Ellen Page is not jeopardizing her career by announcing she is gay. If anything, she is advancing it. She is in the papers and on the web. Not only are people talking about her, she now has the cache that comes with coming out of the closet and announcing one's alternative sexual preference to the world. How many celebrities have announced their preference to have sex with people of the same gender as themselves? 100? 500? More? How many of them have suffered for doing so? Pastors and politicians might face repercussions for announcing their sexual preferences, but celebrities don't, unless perhaps they depend on the Family Channel for keeping their careers afloat. Page has merely taken a place alongside all the other notables who have come out of the closet.

Page, like most others who preceded her and will follow her, declared that her revelation was meant to encourage others, to give them hope and lend them support. I am not so cynical to believe that there was no good will or a desire to provide comfort to others in Page's actions. What I take issue with is the characterization of Page's actions as courageous. They were nothing of the sort. Courage is only required when there is risk. Page faces no risk. Her career is in no jeopardy. Indeed, it is quite likely that she will benefit from her actions by acquiring the sheen that attends to coming out in Hollywood.

What Page did can be applauded (if your sensibilities run in that direction). She can be commended, perhaps even praised for doing something she had no obligation to do. Let's just not call what she did "courageous." We should save that word for people who put something more on the line than Page did.