Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Nearly 10 years after shecame out,Raven-Symonéis reflecting on thedifficulties she facedwhile on the journey to embrace her identity.“There were a lot of challenges,” theRaven’s Housestar, 37, told E! News as she accepted an Icon Award at the 9th Annual Better Brothers Los Angeles Truth Awards.“There was the crumbling of the wall that I had put up for so many years,” she continued. “And I felt very vulnerable, it was an interesting wound that was opened up in public.“David Livingston/GettyNow, the actress prioritizes representation in her work. “I want to make sure I’m creating content that reflects the community that we’re a part of,” she added. “Respectfully and with dignity.“Raven-Symoné previously said she knew she was gay at age 12 — while she was a Disney star onThat’s So Raven. Because of her on-screen persona, the actor was uncertain about coming out.“I never thought I would come out because my personal life didn’t matter,” she said in an"It Gets Better” videoreleased in 2016. “It was only supposed to be sold as, you know, a Raven-Symoné record.“Once she came out, though, things changed. “I felt lighter. I felt like I could go out and not have to put on 17 different hats to be myself,” she said. “I realize that just living my truth of what I am, there’s one less person to fight me in my own head.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Raven-Symoné marriedMiranda Madayin 2020.
Nearly 10 years after shecame out,Raven-Symonéis reflecting on thedifficulties she facedwhile on the journey to embrace her identity.
“There were a lot of challenges,” theRaven’s Housestar, 37, told E! News as she accepted an Icon Award at the 9th Annual Better Brothers Los Angeles Truth Awards.
“There was the crumbling of the wall that I had put up for so many years,” she continued. “And I felt very vulnerable, it was an interesting wound that was opened up in public.”
David Livingston/Getty
Now, the actress prioritizes representation in her work. “I want to make sure I’m creating content that reflects the community that we’re a part of,” she added. “Respectfully and with dignity.”
Raven-Symoné previously said she knew she was gay at age 12 — while she was a Disney star onThat’s So Raven. Because of her on-screen persona, the actor was uncertain about coming out.
“I never thought I would come out because my personal life didn’t matter,” she said in an"It Gets Better” videoreleased in 2016. “It was only supposed to be sold as, you know, a Raven-Symoné record.”
Once she came out, though, things changed. “I felt lighter. I felt like I could go out and not have to put on 17 different hats to be myself,” she said. “I realize that just living my truth of what I am, there’s one less person to fight me in my own head.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Raven-Symoné marriedMiranda Madayin 2020.
source: people.com
