Hollywood actor Ellen Page was the most high-profile supporter of the first ever Pride Jamaica, which is currently taking place in the Caribbean.
Last week we reported on how local LGBT advocates and supporters were preparing for a week of Pride events – including a flag-raising opening ceremony and open-mic cabaret night. It was decided that a parade would not take place due to security fears in a country notorious for its widespread homophobia.
Instead, organizers arranged a flash mob event to take place on Saturday in Kingston, outside of Emancipation Park.
The Pride week events were timed to coincide with Jamaica’s annual Independence and Emancipation celebrations, as organizers thought the theme of ‘emancipation’ was appropriate to LGBT Pride.
According to her social media, Ellen Page – who came out as a lesbian last year – had been in Jamaica in the days leading up to Jamaica Pride on a self-dubbed ‘#gaycation’.
She was a surprise attendee at Saturday’s opening ceremony and flash mob, which attracted around 40 participants.
In a statement to Gay Star News, Latoya Nugent, co-chair of Pride JA, described Page’s appearance as ‘magical and awe-inspiring.’
Award winning actress, Ellen Page is in Jamaica for #PRiDEJA2015. Our Programme Officer, Karen Lloyd took a pic with…
Posted by J-Flag on Saturday, 1 August 2015
A photo of Page appeared on the Facebook page of J-FLAG, Jamaica’s leading LGBTI rights organization. Page herself also posted a photo to her Instagram of flash mob participants.
Page, was has starred in the films Juno and Inception, will next be seen in theaters in the movie Freeheld, playing the partner of Julianne Moore in a true-life story of a same-sex couple battling for equal rights.
Details about Pride Jamaica’s remaining events can be found on the J-FLAG Facebook page.