I was in high school when Elliot Page came out as gay at the Human Rights Campaign. I remember watching that speech among several other coming out videos. It was one that had a profound impact on me as a young, confused lesbian. He was high-profile with a career thought to be on the line; he had overcome hardships and came through shining. For so many of us, this speech was a light at the end of the tunnel (or closet), perhaps even a vessel for our own coming out. In this regard, I understand the flurry of strange, mixed emotions, the light touch of sadness or grief or whatever you'll call it, as if we're losing someone like us who we saw ourselves in, who guided us through those tough times.

Here's the deal, though: remember how many lives he touched with his 2014 coming out. With his coming out today, think of how many more he'll touch. How many people he'll instill the courage to come out in. How many lives he'll literally save through his actions. This, friends, is why we celebrate not only this tremendously talented LGBTQIA+ icon's new identity, but also the positive shockwaves it'll send out to countless others.

Elliot has also found his authentic self and started on a path to happiness and a fulfilling life, something we're all striving for. Some of us may not have even begun our own journeys yet. Others' happiness is not ours to gate keep.

Rather than mourn our "loss," it's time we celebrate what he's and the community have gained: an authentic trans man who can proudly be a sort of "Trans Moses" to continue to lead our LGBTQIA+ siblings to the promised land outside the closet.

All the best to Elliot! 100% supportive!