Ellen Page Says She Was Inspired By ‘Freeheld’ To Come Out Gay

Hester famously challenged government officials and demanded pension benefits for Andree as she battled terminal lung cancer.

Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, she responded to a question about how it feels to be openly gay by saying.

“Is it striking to you that in 2006 when this movie takes place it was not legal to be gay married in 41 states?”

Speaking about life before coming out, she added: “I was sad, it is toxic and I wish that no-one would have to live that way”. You rarely meet people who are as generous, so deeply kind, protective… I do not like cops officers movies, I do not know, ‘ Director’s cut: The pair have been joined by director Peter Sollett to debate their new movieHowever she was moved by the plot.

“First of all, I didn’t want to be a closeted person anymore”, she said.

“Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher, who are producers on the project, came to me with the documentary and I had just (been nominated for) an Oscar (for Juno), and asked me if I’d be interested in attaching myself to play Stacey”, she recalled.

She went on to say that she believes the reason people are shocked or anxious by the social acceptance of the LGBT community, is because people aren’t exposed enough to LGBT people.

The film centers on the real-life love story of Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree, who fought for equality.

The 28-year-old also went on to admit that she felt “lucky” to now be able to publicly date somebody of the same sex, with herself and girlfriend Samantha Thomas making many public appearances together.