“this world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another.”

Ellen Page's speech at the Time to Thrive Conference

Last Friday, actress Ellen Page gave a speech at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Time to THRIVE conference.  Her speech was captivating and powerful.  Towards the end it contained a personal confession from the actress, “I am here today because I am gay,” she said.  “And because maybe I can make a difference to help others have an easier and more hopeful time.”  Bravo to the lovely actress for using her voice to inspire others and declare their own versions of love, especially on the fourteenth of February.

Valentine's Day has become associated with cheesy cards and chocolate and stupid stuffed bears with hearts.  I've actually always found it to be one of the most obnoxious holidays.  What we forget is that Valentine's Day does not need to be primarily focused on the material and commercial aspects of our world.

Valentine's Day is about love.  

And that is what Ellen Page focused on in her speech.  Love is an action that changes lives and influences decisions.  It is something that helps improve the quality of life for every single person. Something that cannot be defined concretely.  Love is love is love is love.  It is different for everyone and nothing is right or wrong.  I admire Ellen Page for her bravery and obvious passion that she possesses in order to make something so personal very public.  However, I am looking forward to the day when declarations of love are not considered newsworthy just because a person professes to love someone of the same sex.  Because it shouldn't matter.  Love is love no matter who it is between.

As Ellen Page so eloquently put,

“this world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another.”

Can we do that?  I really think we can.