"Pretty Little Liars" star Tyler Blackburn can come out as bisexual.
In a new interview with The Advocate, the actor said, "I'm queer. I've identified as bisexual since a teenager. I just want to feel powerful in my own skin, and my own mind, and in my own heart."
He continued, "I heard so many things from within the queer community about bisexuality being a cop-out or bullshit or the easy way out or something, and that always stuck with me because I felt the pressure from all sides to have [my sexuality] figured out and I think for the longest time, I suppressed more of my attraction to men. It wasn't until my late 20s, towards the end of 'Pretty Little Liars,' that I really allowed myself to go there and not just wonder about it or lust over it, but experience that vulnerability and experience the emotional aspect of what it is to be bisexual."
Tyler currently stars as a gay war veteran and amputee on CW's "Roswell, New Mexico." His character hits close to home.
"I knew this guy in and out," he said. "I understood feeling oppressed. I understood having issues with my father [wanting to feel] accepted by him. I understood wanting something but being afraid to have it. I understood self-doubt."
The 32-year-old said he's coming out because he wants to be himself.
"I just want to live my truth and feel OK with experiencing love and experiencing self-love," he said. "Yes, there is an element of, I want to feel like it's OK to hold my boyfriend's hand as I'm walking down the street, and not worry. Is someone going to look and be like, 'Whoa, is that guy from that show? I didn't know that [he was queer.]' I want to own my space now."