Raven-Symoné Speaks On The ‘Challenges’ She Faced After Coming Out: ‘It Was An Interesting Wound That Was Opened Up In Public’

Raven-Symoné Speaks On The ‘Challenges’ She Faced After Coming Out: ‘It Was An Interesting Wound That Was Opened Up In Public’

Raven-Symoné is opening up about her “coming out” journey.

During her acceptance speech for an Icon Award at the 9th Annual Better Brothers Los Angeles Truth Awards on Monday (Mar. 6), the Disney Channel star discussed the challenges and vulnerabilities she encountered when coming out as a lesbian 10 years ago.

Raven-Symoné said,

“There were a lot of challenges.”

She continued,

“There was the crumbling of the wall that I had put up for so many years. And I felt very vulnerable, it was an interesting wound that was opened up in public.”

Raven Symone

Raven-Symoné — who wed Miranda Maday in 2020 — previously said she knew she was gay while starring on That’s So Raven. Her on-screen persona, however, had her afraid to tell the world.

But things changed when she came out. She said that she could just go out and be herself because she felt liberated.

The actress now places a high priority on representation in her work.

Raven added,

“I want to make sure I’m creating content that reflects the community that we’re a part of. Respectfully and with dignity.”

And while she’s living in her truth as far as her relationship goes, Raven doesn’t really mind not being her full self as far as her name goes.

In a funny TikTok video, the actress shared the correct way to say Symoné. And it turns out, the general population has been led astray when it comes to the correct pronunciation.

According to her caption:

“Yo, that’s Raven Symoné…It’s pronounced See-mon-ye”

The child TV star followed up in a subsequent video, noting that once she was told to keep the pronunciation simple, it kind of just stuck with her. Raven added,

“No I didn’t [correct people] because at a very young age I was told to tell everybody my name was Raven Symoné (See-mon) and it just never left my body…so yes I don’t trip over it [and] I don’t correct people”

What are your thoughts on what Raven-Symoné shared? Let us know in the comments!

[VIA]