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'He has hurt LGBTQ people so badly': Ellen Page criticizes Mike Pence in impassioned speech

"If you are in a position of power and you hate people and you want to cause suffering to them, you go through the trouble, you spend your career trying to cause suffering. What do you think is going to happen?" she said.

Speaking about violence against the LGBTQ community, the actress asked viewers to "connect the dots"

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Emma Portner, left, and Ellen Page arrive at the world premiere of "Flatliners" at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Canadian actress and producer Ellen Page was on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Thursday night promoting her upcoming Netflix show, The Umbrella Academy. While she talked about LGBTQ representation — or lack thereof — in Hollywood, the conversation quickly turned to Jussie Smollett, the Empire actor who was violently attacked earlier this week in Chicago by two men reportedly shouting racist and homophobic slurs. Smollett suffered multiple injuries, including a cracked rib.

Page mentioned the "media that is saying it's a debate whether what happened to Jussie Smollett was a hate crime," and then mentioned U.S. Vice President Mike Pence by name, criticizing his beliefs in an impassioned, tearful speech that is making its way around social media.

"I'm really fired up tonight but it feels impossible not to feel this way right now with the President and the Vice President, Mike Pence, who wishes I couldn't be married, let's just be clear," she said. "The Vice President of America wishes I didn't have the love [I have] with my wife. He wanted to ban that in Indiana."

At this point, Colbert held up a picture of Page and her wife, Emma Portner, while Page continued:

"He believes in conversion therapy. He has hurt LGBTQ people so badly as the governor of Indiana. I think the thing we need to know — and I hope my show Gaycation did this, in terms of connecting the dots between what happened with Jussie, I don't know him personally, I send him all of my love. Connect the dots. This is what happens. If you are in a position of power and you hate people and you want to cause suffering to them, you go through the trouble, you spend your career trying to cause suffering. What do you think is going to happen? Kids are going to be abused and they're going to kill themselves. People are going to be beaten on the street. I have traveled the world and I have met the most marginalized people you could meet. I'm lucky to have this time and this privilege to say this. This needs to f--king stop."

Page, who was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, received a standing ovation from the audience, with celebrities online commending her for speaking out.

You can also watch the full interview with Ellen Page below.