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Ellen DeGeneres Praises Ellen Page’s LGBTQ Activism Amid Criticism

The talk show host came under fire for her chats with Kevin Hart and Chris Pratt.

Like it or not, Ellen Page continues to be an outspoken activist for LGBTQ rights and visibility.

When Page appeared Friday on Ellen DeGeneres’s daytime talk show, DeGeneres brought up the out actor's recent visit to The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, where she denounced Vice President Mike Pence's anti-LGBTQ stance, including his historic support of conversion therapy.

The Umbrella Academy star also linked the Trump administration to the recent racist and homophobic attack on gay Empire star Jussie Smollett: “Connect the dots. This is what happens.”

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HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: Ellen Page attends the premiere of Netflix's "The Umbrella Academy" at ArcLight Hollywood on February 12, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

“I think what people need to know is it’s life or death," Page told DeGeneres about her unplanned Colbert speech. "People need to know that when you’re growing up in a society that makes you feel like there’s something wrong with you, that something needs to be fixed, it’s extremely dangerous and harmful."

“We have such little representation in the media and we don’t learn about LGBTQ history in schools,” Page added. “These are the things that we need. ’Cause you know what it’s like, Ellen. You know what it’s like to grow up and internalize homophobia and live with that shame and how much that poisons you.”

“We’re so bombarded—you watch the news—we’re bombarded with horrible things going on all the time,” said DeGeneres, admitting, “Sometimes we just keep our heads down and we just keep trying to do what we can.”

"We need to have these conversations because kids kill themselves, are kicked out of their homes, run away from home," Page continued, noting that 40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ. "We need to be having these conversations. We need to be treating these moments as learning opportunities."

DeGeneres also acknowledged the great work of Page's television series, Gaycation, and that she is receiving much criticism for her outspoken LGBTQ activism.

“But it’s just the truth," said Page, who is married to Emma Portner. "And the thing that needs to shift too in the media is, like, it’s not a debate. Marriage equality should never have been a debate. It’s not a debate.”

Page recently criticized Chris Pratt's appearance on The Late Show, calling the star's evangelical megachurch "infamously" anti-LGBTQ.

"If you are a famous actor and you belong to an organization that hates a certain group of people, don’t be surprised if someone simply wonders why it’s not addressed," Page tweeted. "Open your heart, stop being defensive and have compassion. It’s a beautiful and life changing feeling, empathy."

DeGeneres came under fire last month for defending comedian Kevin Hart after he stepped down from hosting the Oscars amid backlash surrounding his homophobic history. The host was also criticized for failing to address Pratt's allegedly anti-LGBTQ church in their recent interview.

Page did not address the Hart or Pratt controversies on Friday's broadcast.

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