Mae Whitman opened up about her sexuality on Monday while praising the series The Owl House for its representation of queer characters. Whitman voices Amity Blight, a lesbian witch, on the show.
"Just taking a moment to say I am SO proud to be even a small part of a show like The Owl House," she tweeted Monday. "Being pansexual myself, I wish I had such incredible characters like Amity and Luz in my life when I was growing up. Queer representation is so so so important :,) keep it up world! #TOH,."
She followed the post with another one clarifying what she meant, for those who were unfamiliar with the label: "I know ppl might be unfamiliar with what pansexual means; for me it means I know I can fall in love with people of all genders," she wrote. "This is the word that fits me best and I'm proud+happy to be part of the Bi+ community :,)" Along with a link to GLAAD's Accelerating Bi+ Acceptance page.
The Owl House has won praise for its depiction of Whitman's character Amity's growing romantic connection to the show's central character, Luz Noceda; series creator
Dana Terrace confirmed the characters are are lesbian and bi identified, respectively.
While this is the first time Whitman has put a label on her sexuality, this isn't the first time that she's addressed her queerness. In 2014, Whitman told Glamour that she just liked people. "I like everyone. I see so much wonderful potential in everyone that I meet, and there's always something to learn from," she said. "I think girls are attractive, I think boys are attractive, I think old people are attractive, I think young people are -- I appreciate everything and everyone."
Whitman shared that she had the benefit of growing up in a home where same-sex attraction was totally accepted. "I definitely have times where I'm attracted to girls or I'm attracted to who I'm attracted to and that should be the way that it is," Whitman added.