People Are Searching For Before And After Pictures Of Elliot Page – Here’s Why That’s Wrong

This morning, Elliot Page was trending on Google. The 34-year-old actor shared a picture on Instagram proudly wearing swimming trunks for the first time, and while fans are sharing in his pride there is a concerning story going on behind closed doors: people are Googling 'Elliot Page before and after photo'.

Earlier this year, it was the same story. Page was Time magazines newest cover star, and the first trans man to appear on it, opening up to the publication about his struggle with gender identity throughout his Hollywood career.

The compelling interview saw Elliot disclose he was recovering from top surgery when he chose to come out on Instagram late last year, an admission that also saw Google searches for the star become increasingly uncomfortable to witness. ‘Elliot Page top surgery,’ ‘Elliot page previous name’ and ‘Elliot Page before and after’ were all trending searches.

It seems that any time Elliot opens up about his body, his decision to get top surgery – which involves the surgical removal of breast tissue and reconstruction of the chest to generate a more masculine appearance – or just posts a simple photo online, it causes a wave of people to search for images of Elliot Page before and after surgery, or the medical intervention he undertook as part of his transition.

Now, it’s important to note that being transgender is not all about surgery – just as some may choose to undertake it, others may deem it unnecessary. Gender expression is entirely personal for trans people, just as it is for a cisgender person. But also for many, surgery is unaffordable or inaccessible and thus an extremely difficult part of navigating gender identity both privately and publicly. It’s with that in mind that everyone must remember: it’s entirely inappropriate to ask a trans person about their decision to have or not have surgery, or any medical intervention for that matter.

In the Elliot Page interview, writer Katy Steinmetz notes he volunteered the information early on, clearly signposting that he felt comfortable discussing it. However, because of the invasive and abhorrent ways trans bodies are discussed at large, and the ways trans people’s lives are debated and dehumanised so often, asking unsolicited or off the cuff questions about a trans persons medical history or plans is wrong.

That’s why these Google searches are so problematic – because they feel into a culture where trans peoples bodies are dissected and discussed in the most debasing ways. It doesn’t matter what Elliot Page looked like before top surgery, nor what his previous name way, yet for there to be so much search around those questions shows some people still deem it does.

Elliot should be seeing his name trend on Google for the amazing work he’s done, both in the film industry and in activism. We should be asking about his future projects, not living in the past and comparing his body then and now – it’s disrespectful to do to anyone in general, but for trans people who are so regularly subject to debates about their mere existence, it’s disgraceful for cisgender people perpetuate this obsession with before and afters.

To those people, we can only help educate and ask for some empathy for people who experience harassment and abuse regularly. In 2019, it was reported that trans hate crimes had increased by 81%, with research by Galop stating more than half of trans people feel less able to leave their house because of it. More than 70% of trans people do not feel police can help them, with more than one in four attempting suicide and nine in ten thinking about it. Our societies culture of ignorance towards trans people leads to violence – and it needs to change.

Read More:

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This Twitter Thread Perfectly Explains Basic Etiquette When Talking About Trans People Coming Out