This just in: Actor Tyler Blackburn bats for both teams.
In a new interview with The Advocate, the 32-year-old TV heartthrob opens up about his sexuality publicly for the first time.
“I’m queer,” he says. “I’ve identified as bisexual since [I was] a teenager. I just want to feel powerful in my own skin, and my own mind, and in my own heart.”
Blackburn first made a name for himself as bad boy Caleb Rivers in Pretty Little Liars and its spin-off, Ravenswood. Last year, he joined the cast of CW’s Roswell, New Mexico, playing Alex Manes, a gay military veteran and amputee.
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Though he’s identified as bisexual for many years, Blackburn says deep-seated “self-hatred and shame” forced him to keep it a closely-guarded secret.
“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,” he says, “and that always stuck with me because I felt the pressure from all sides to have [my sexuality] figured out.”
Well, not anymore!
Blackburn continues, “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.”
Blackburn says that he’s now looking forward to living his life authentically, without any secrets or shame.
“My goal above everything is to feel as happy as possible,” he added. “As free as possible.”
Sounds like a great goal to us!
Scroll down for more pics from Blackburn’s Instagram page…
Donston
He does seem to be acknowledging that for a lot of people gay, straight, bi, etc. are often more about sociology and/or politics rather than about orientation or lifestyle. There is indeed some freedom that comes with embracing and only embracing a bi identity, but that freedom can often be short-term. There will be people (some of which are bi identifying) who won’t see you as “authentically bi” unless you have legit and long-term relationships beyond one gender. There will be people who ultimately see you as gay or straight depending on who you’re in a committed relationship with at the time. There will be pressure to constantly talk about your overall passions, affections, love and relationship ambitions. There will be people that expect you to rep “bi pride” for your whole life and will resent you if later in your life you see yourself as more gay or straight than “authentically bi”. Some still try to push the likes of Angelina Jolie and Alan Cummings to rep “bi pride” and to talk about their relationships with multiple genders.
There really is no identity that represents true freedom. That’s why I do understand a certain portion of the “no labels” movement. However, if you feel you are something then that’s how you feel.
iamru2
Heartthrob?
Catholicslutbox
In queerty’s eyes, if he’s gay, he’s a heartthrob.
Hdtex
He’s got a pulse
jjose712
Well, the truth is he has a good bunch of female fans for his pretty little liars role
dacha68
Who??
Donston
He apparently had a gig on Pretty Little Liars, which was a somewhat popular show during its airing. I didn’t watch. So, I don’t really know how big big role was on that series. About 80% of these celeb coming out articles highlights some fairly low-profile people. So, you should expect not to know that many of them by now.
jjose712
Use google.
The fact that you have no idea who he is doesn’t really means nothing
Herman75
He’s on Roswell, New Mexico, Tuesday night on the CW
sputnik53
Thank heavens I’m old b/c 20 years ago if I saw him at a club or on the street I wouldn’t even look at him twice. What’s the appeal? What is it about him that makes one’s heart throb?
Hdtex
He’s got a pulse and a dick. What else do you need?
Ronbo
Because you are soooo beautiful? Guys with oversized egos usually disappoint in more than just one way,
nitejonboy
Yes, I’m sure he’s just dying for your approval…
Donston
Here you go with the misogynistic BS. You keep hating on women. Yet, you seem to have very little respect towards men who have unabashed same-sex preferences and relationship ambitions. You’re sh*tting on hetero marriage here. Yet, you don’t support same-sex marriage or people of the same gender raising children. You talk about “liberation”, but you’re ultimately an extreme traditionalist who happens to be homo. You’re just a sea of a bunch of sh*t that does not add up. I can’t even tell if you’re really into dudes or if you just hate women so much that lusting after men is your only option. You’re like way too many of these “queers” out here who are far more driven by resentment, ego and sociology than by passions or affections or love.
ShiningSex
gay not bi. get with it queen. we all know.
pavelvega
He looks gay but if he wants to say bisexual go for it
Donston
Depending on masculinity or femininity to determine someone’s sexuality is always a mistake. There are plenty of effeminate men who have little to no same-sex attractions or desires. Just as there are “masculine” men who are completely homosexual. Everybody is different and have their own thing going on. I don’t understand why it’s so difficult for folks to get that. Maybe he won’t mind being seen as “gay” at a latter time. But for now you have to respect what he has ardently presented.
Based off of what he’s saying it can be deciphered that he’s been messing around with different types of people for a while but hasn’t allowed himself to be vulnerable with a guy and hasn’t allowed himself to romantically and emotionally connect and invest with a guy. That can be a difficult step for men who have a decent amount of sexual feelings for women but really desire same-sex affections and crave same-sex love and relationships.
Donston
The spectrum is wide and varied. However, there are plenty of men who don’t have any sexual attractions or desires or passions towards dudes. There are plenty of men who don’t have any sexual attractions or desires or passions towards women. What you claim is both homophobic and hetero-phobic. And then you top it off by some effemi-phobic crap. Yes, there are plenty of problematic females and plenty of “queer women” who purport anti male masculinity and ultimately resent men who wish to fully embrace gay identities. On the other end, women are probably the biggest supporters of the “bi guy” movement.
You’ve been claiming the same stuff under different handles for years, and no one is buying into your woman-hating, effemi-phobic, resentful all gay identities bs besides men who think exactly like yourself. And a lot of the trouble men are in when it comes to identity, sociological pressures, “freedom” is the product of men of yesteryear, not women. Men built this social structure, for the good and bad of themselves.
Toofie
He’s a good looking man so I don’t understand all those questioning it. Good for him for coming out Bi!
Hussain-TheCanadian
I got to admit Brain, your new user name is hilarious – I approve – but your usual message against women needs to go man, you’ve been saying the same exact thing for many years, as far as I can tell, you haven’t gathered any cult following, so please just stop – I enjoy your other posts a whole lot more than when you go on “women are the natural enemies of men” ……how can I take your “insights” seriously when my biggest fans, allies, and friends are females.
You need to move on, find a new message that will connect with the rest of your brothers on this site.
Ashke113
Riiiiight……”bi”
Cut to a few months from now when he again comes out as gay and again no one is stunned.