'Girl Meets World' Star Rowan Blanchard Comes Out, Says She 'Identifies as Queer'
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Rowan Blanchard, the 14-year-old star of "Girl Meets World" on the Disney Channel, has opened up about her sexuality. The young actress told fans she doesn't want to be labeled as either straight or gay.
In a Twitter post, Blanchard stated that she's "not gonna give myself labels to stick with - just existing." She further clarified her statement when a fan wondered if it meant she was open to liking both genders by saying, "Yes open to liking any gender in future is why I identify as queer."
Aye! pic.twitter.com/NXOZv5Jlzy
— Rowan Blanchard (@rowblanchard) January 16, 2016
@phippstea yes open to liking any gender in future is why I identify as queer — Rowan Blanchard (@rowblanchard) January 16, 2016
According to E! Online, the actress was prompted to post the Twitter statements following her post on Rookie Mag, where she talks about validation, loving herself and trusting that she only has to be the best for herself and not for someone else's expectations.
Blanchard also responded to another message from a fan who wished that Riley, her character on the TV show, would admit to being a bisexual. The teenage star responded that she was on board the idea.
"If not Riley- it's vvv important to me, being queer, that there is representation on our show," according to Pink New. However, the actress also admitted that she has so far "only liked boys" in her 14 years of existence.
This isn't the first time the Disney star is making bold statements. Blanchard is quite vocal about the issues of the world and even spoke about feminism and gender inequality in Hollywood.
"I'm happy to talk about what I'm wearing. It's cool to spotlight a new designer on the runway and to contribute to the fashion world that I love," she told Elle. "But don't make my story, and who I am, be my dress, while my male costar's story is how he picks scripts and gets inspired." She also spoke up about feminism in a Tumblr post with surprising sophistication and maturity for a girl her age, according to Mic.
Blanchard made another controversial statement that targeted music superstar Taylor Swift and her girl squad in December. "Feminism and friendship are supposed to be inclusive, and most of these 'squads' are strictly exclusive," the young actress said via Just Jared Jr.
Daily Mail reported that some of Blanchard's followers didn't welcome the idea that she's queer. "'I thought I was being brave and was proud of myself and then everyone attacks me... Cool," the actress said.