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Chris Pratt’s Avengers co-stars came to his defense after attacks on his religion

Lately, Twitter has been a rough place for famous Chrises. First Evans had his day on the trending side bar, and now it's Pratt's turn. With the way things are going, we cringe for what's in store for Hemsworth.

In October 2020, Warrior Nun writer Amy Berg posted a photo on Twitter of four famous Chrises - Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pine, and Chris Pratt. "One has to go," Berg captioned the photo.

— (@)

Pratt started trending as he was quickly dubbed the "worst Chris." And things just got worse from there. Until some real-life heroes stepped in and tried to address the situation, defending their co-star and friend.

— (@)

No, it's not because that many people all strongly hated Passengers. Pratt's political and religious beliefs were the issue Pratt is a practicing Christian, and allegedly attends a church with ties to Hillsong, a megachurch Ellen Paige called "infamously anti-LGBTQ." Pratt has denied he attends an anti-LGBTQ church, saying, "It has recently been suggested that I belong to a church which 'hates a certain group of people' and is 'infamously anti-LGBTQ.' Nothing could be further from the truth. I go to a church that opens their doors to absolutely everyone."

Additionally, Pratt is suspected of being a secret Trump supporter. Pratt follows some conservatives on Twitter, and he didn't attend a virtual fundraiser for Joe Biden which many of his Avengers co-stars attended. But to be fair, Pratt has never spoken out about his political beliefs one way or the other, and has donated to both Republicans and Democrats in the past.

All the speculation about who he's secretly voting for is just that - something which his Marvel co-stars pointed out. Pratt's fellow Avengers came to his defense on social media, saying that those who were quick to criticize don't really know what he stands for.

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— (@)

Mark Ruffalo called the poll a "distraction." Because it's not like we don't have more important things to worry about right now than which Chris we hate.

— (@)

This article originally appeared on 10.23.20

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Actor Elliot Page announces he is transgender in stirring note to fans

via Elliot Page / Instagram

Elliot Page, once publicly known as Ellen Page, has announced he is transgender. The announcement makes the Oscar-nominated actor one of the most high-profile celebrities to come out as transgender.

The actor currently stars in Netflix's "The Umbrella Academy" and has acted in films such as "Juno," "Inception," and the "X-Men" franchise.

Page made the announcement on social media where he celebrated the joy of coming out while taking the opportunity to discuss the issues faced by the transgender community.

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"I feel overwhelming gratitude for the incredible people who have supported me along this journey. I can't begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self," Page wrote.

"I've been endlessly inspired by so many in the trans community," he continued. "Thank you for your courage, your generosity and ceaselessly working to make this world a more inclusive and compassionate place. I will offer whatever support I can and continue to strive for a more loving and equal society."

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Page's announcement is powerful because he acknowledges the joy and hope of living as his authentic self while understanding his road will be difficult and that countless transgender people face life-threatening discrimination.

"I love that I am trans. And I love that I am queer. And the more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I dream, the more my heart grows and the more I thrive. To all the trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse, and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you, and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better," Page continued.

"The truth is, despite feeling profoundly happy right now and knowing how much privilege I carry, I am also scared. I'm scared of the invasiveness, the hate, 'the jokes,' and of the violence…" Page wrote.

"The discrimination towards trans people is rife, insidious, and cruel, resulting in horrific consequences," he continued. "In 2020 alone, it has reported that at least 40 transgender people have been murdered, the majority of which were Black and Latinx trans women."

Page's announcement was celebrated on Instagram by his spouse, Emma Portner. The couple married in 2018.

via Emma Portner / Instagram

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Page's pronouns are he/they and he identifies as transgender and non-binary. A non-binary person's gender identity is neither man nor woman and can be fluid.

The announcement was celebrated by Nick Adams, GLAAD's Director of Transgender Media. "Elliot Page has given us fantastic characters on-screen, and has been an outspoken advocate for all LGBTQ people," Adams said in a statement.

"He will now be an inspiration to countless trans and non-binary people," Adams continued. "All transgender people deserve the chance to be ourselves and to be accepted for who we are. We celebrate the remarkable Elliot Page today."

Page's decision to come out is brave and will hopefully broaden the conversation surrounding transgender issues and inspire greater tolerance among mainstream society.

Celebrities like Page are in a unique position to change people's opinions on controversial matters such as gender. When people are comfortable having you in their homes through the magic of television they are more likely to accept others of the same identity.

Back in the '90s, Ellen DeGeneres suffered career setbacks and public outrage for coming out as a lesbian. But her visibility was a major factor in turning the tide of public opinion on LGBTQ issues among mainstream Americans.

Hopefully, Page's announcement can do the same by shining a light on the issues facing transgender individuals and promote their inclusion.

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To any LGBTQ person yearning to be themselves, the time may have come to burst through those closet doors.

Oct. 11, 2016, is National Coming Out Day.

Coming out to the world as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer can bring on a ton of overwhelming feelings: liberation, pain, exhaustion, downright terror, etc. — unfortunately, there really is no character limit to the emotional toll of that moment.

When I came out to my sister over spinach and artichoke dip — confessing my Hollywood crush was, in fact, on Colin Farrell, not Hilary Duff — I'm pretty sure I was feeling all of those things times 10.

That's why National Coming Out Day is such an important idea: It unites our community in solidarity so we can all have each others' backs on what could be one of the most pivotal days in many of our lives.

In honor of the big day, I've collected 11 of my favorite, most telling quotes about coming out from various LGBTQ celebrities, each served with a small sliver of advice for anyone preparing for their moment to shine.

1. Coming out is about you, first and foremost. But an added benefit is that the more out people there are, the better it is for our world.

Anderson Cooper, journalist.

2. Your identity isn't worth compromising. And once you understand that, it will probably feel like a two-ton weight has been lifted off you.

Laverne Cox, actress.

3. It's OK to acknowledge the pain you've gone through — coming out won't make all that past suffering magically disappear.

Ellen Page, actress.

4. You are the only one — the only one — in charge of your life and your story. Don't be afraid to take the steering wheel.

Michael Sam, athlete.

5. You don't need to worry about feeling anxious, scared, and hesitant. Those of us who've been there get it: The struggle is real.

Chaz Bono, TV personality.

6. You'll probably realize that coming out will positively benefit* many of the relationships in your life.

Ricky Martin, musician.

*And if coming out harms a relationship, you may want to re-examine that relationship; if someone is homophobic or transphobic, it's on them to grow and accept you.

7. It's not just a cliché — things really do get better. But that doesn't mean you won't struggle with your identity or sexuality ever again.

Sara Gilbert, actress.

8. Don't be surprised if the sky seems a shade bluer after coming out — living your truth can change the way you see the whole world.

Frank Ocean, musician.

9. Others may suggest you have ulterior motives for coming out. Don't let their words get in your head — they're wrong.

Caitlyn Jenner, Olympian and TV personality.

10. If you don't have too many LGBTQ role models to turn to, don't fret. You can be the person you once needed down the road.

Orlando Cruz, athlete.

11. Coming out can be tough ... but it doesn't mean there's no room for laughs along the way.

Ellen DeGeneres, comedian.

If you're thinking about coming out, remember: There are plenty of resources and supporters out there, should you want a helping hand.

The single best piece of advice I can give you (disclaimer: I'm not a celebrity) is to always keep in mind there's no one-size-fits-all guide to coming out, nor should there be. Lots of variables go into when and how you should burst through that door, so it's OK to play by your own rules and pave your own path.

Stay safe, stay strong, and remember: You got this.

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Watch as Ellen Page helps a man come out as gay to his mother.

In the first episode of her new docu-series, Ellen Page helps a young man.

Ellen Page and friend Ian Daniel are doing a little traveling to learn more about global gay culture.

It's all part of their new Viceland docu-series "Gaycation," following the two around the world as they interview people and interact with other cultures to learn more about what it's like to be gay in these countries, and to generally shine a light on global gay rights.

The first episode takes a look at Japan.

All GIFs from Viceland/YouTube.

At first glance, Japan seems like it might be a pretty gay-friendly.

While the country doesn't recognize same-sex marriages, it does accept civil unions, there haven't been laws explicitly prohibiting same-sex relationships since the late 19th century, several cities throughout the country have nondiscrimination ordinances, and its predominant religions aren't anti-gay (relative to what we're used to here in the U.S.).

Still, it's not all that gay-friendly overall. It's kind of odd, really.

A 2014 study found that nearly 70% of the country's gay, lesbian, and bisexual students had experienced bullying on the basis of their sexual orientation, and 30% had considered suicide.

Even so, the homophobia in Japanese culture is, for the most part, pretty subtle.

Kanako Otsuji, Japan's first out gay politician, explains what prevents gay people from feeling comfortable: fear and shame.

While we're used to really blatant (sometimes even violent) forms of homophobia in the U.S., it's different in Japan. That is, being gay is a path to being ostracized by friends, family, and coworkers. It's faint, but present. Coming out is met with shame.

During the episode, Otsuji explains that climate and demonstrates why she's a total badass for pushing to make gay rights part of her political platform in spite of pushback.

All that is what makes this next part so powerful.

Page and Daniel were asked to tag along and provide support as a man came out as gay to his mother.

The young man wanted a friend there to support him during the difficult conversation, only he didn’t have any. So Page and Daniel came along as a show of solidarity.

In a culture where coming out is seen as shameful, the young man's bravery is stunning.

The whole scene is really touching and might just make you cry.

His mother briefly left the room, saying, "I'm sorry." Soon enough, she was back, and she did what any loving mother would do: She offered her son support and pledged to "accept it and gradually understand it."

It's important to be authentic. That's why coming out can be so crucial to one's own self-esteem and overall happiness.

Here. Let Ellen Page explain why she felt she had to come out:

It's through coming out that we can change minds and change the world.

Page ends the episode talking about the importance of coming out, and how that's the most surefire path to long-term social acceptance. (And she's right.)

"I think the interesting thing about ... people who have a hard time with [the LGBT community] ... when someone in their life comes out, the change is fast," says Page. "It’s not always super easy at first, but I feel like people evolve quite quickly. I think it’s because we all obviously understand love and desire it, and can understand what that means for other people."

Watch the entire episode of "Gaycation" below (the story of the man coming out to his mother starts at about 33 minutes).

Can't wait for episode two!

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2 great actresses make a 'True Detective' spoof that almost eases my pain at the new casting.

I really loved the first season of "True Detective." It made me see Matthew McConaughey as a serious actor, and I loved the story.

I was planning to watch season two, but the casting announcement disappointed me something fierce. No female detective or a person of color in a leading role? I could overlook it for one season, but now it's clear the honchos just want to cater to what they perceive is the main demographic instead of making a wider tent.

I think it's an unfortunate move, but these two fantastic actresses seem to have heard my frustration and made a parody to cheer me up. As silly as they're being in this Funny or Die video, it does actually help me visualize how great the show would be with one or more female leads.

Take note, Nic Pizzolatto. Women make awesome detective characters, too.

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ellen page

Chris Pratt’s Avengers co-stars came to his defense after attacks on his religion

Actor Elliot Page announces he is transgender in stirring note to fans

Coming out can be liberating, painful, and exhausting. These 11 celeb quotes say it all.

To any LGBTQ person yearning to be themselves, the time may have come to burst through those closet doors.

1. Coming out is about you, first and foremost. But an added benefit is that the more out people there are, the better it is for our world.

2. Your identity isn't worth compromising. And once you understand that, it will probably feel like a two-ton weight has been lifted off you.

3. It's OK to acknowledge the pain you've gone through — coming out won't make all that past suffering magically disappear.

4. You are the only one — the only one — in charge of your life and your story. Don't be afraid to take the steering wheel.

5. You don't need to worry about feeling anxious, scared, and hesitant. Those of us who've been there get it: The struggle is real.

6. You'll probably realize that coming out will positively benefit* many of the relationships in your life.

7. It's not just a cliché — things really do get better. But that doesn't mean you won't struggle with your identity or sexuality ever again.

8. Don't be surprised if the sky seems a shade bluer after coming out — living your truth can change the way you see the whole world.

9. Others may suggest you have ulterior motives for coming out. Don't let their words get in your head — they're wrong.

10. If you don't have too many LGBTQ role models to turn to, don't fret. You can be the person you once needed down the road.

11. Coming out can be tough ... but it doesn't mean there's no room for laughs along the way.

If you're thinking about coming out, remember: There are plenty of resources and supporters out there, should you want a helping hand.

Watch as Ellen Page helps a man come out as gay to his mother.

In the first episode of her new docu-series, Ellen Page helps a young man.

Ellen Page and friend Ian Daniel are doing a little traveling to learn more about global gay culture.

At first glance, Japan seems like it might be a pretty gay-friendly.

Kanako Otsuji, Japan's first out gay politician, explains what prevents gay people from feeling comfortable: fear and shame.

Page and Daniel were asked to tag along and provide support as a man came out as gay to his mother.

It's important to be authentic. That's why coming out can be so crucial to one's own self-esteem and overall happiness.

It's through coming out that we can change minds and change the world.

Watch the entire episode of "Gaycation" below (the story of the man coming out to his mother starts at about 33 minutes).

2 great actresses make a 'True Detective' spoof that almost eases my pain at the new casting.

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