Raven-Symoné does not want to be labled as gay: ‘I want to be labeled a human who loves humans’

When I was in my 20s and through most of my 30s, I was very adverse to labels like being thought of as Hispanic even though my surname makes that clear as does the color of my skin.

And to be called gay? Forget it! I was simply a ‘private person.’

I was filled with shame about who I was as far as the gay part and as far as the Hispanic part, I think I felt it might limit me.

Well, whatever my issues were then they certainly are not my issues now. Call me gay, call me Hispanic. Label me. Big deal.

Because it seems to me that whatever you put out there into the universe is who you are and anyone with half a brain will form their opinion of you from there.

I guess that’s why I’m cringing a bit at the interview Raven-Symoné gave to Oprah Winfrey even though I understand how someone so young would say these things.

Two of the biggest labels that have gone with the former Disney teen queen: being a lesbian or bisexual and being an African-American.

She does acknowledge that she is ‘in an amazing, happy relationship with my partner – a woman. I am proud to be what I am and who I am.’

Just don’t call her gay.

‘I don’t want to be labeled gay,’ she says. ‘I want to be labeled a human who loves humans. I’m tired of being labeled.’

She indicates, without using the word, to Winfrey that she has always been bisexual – attracted to both females and males.

‘I knew when I was 12 – I was looking at everything.’

The distaste for labels extends to race.

‘I’m an American, I’m not an African American. I’m an American,’ she said.

When Winfrey pointed out that such a statement would be causing Twitter to explode as soon as the interview aired, Raven elaborated.

‘I will say this. I don’t know where my roots go to. I don’t know how far back they go…and I don’t know what country in Africa I’m from. But I do know my roots are in Louisiana.

‘I’m an American and that’s a colorless person, ’cause we’re all people. I have lots of things running through my veins. I don’t label myself.

‘What I really mean by that is. I am an American. That’s what I mean. I have darker skin. I have a nice, interesting grade of hair. I connect with Caucasian, I connect with Asian, I connect with black, I connect with Indian. I connect with each culture.’