( CNN ) -- Actress Raven-Symone knows exactly who she is , and that person ca n't be defined with the usual labels . That 's what the former `` Cosby Show '' star told Oprah Winfrey on OWN on Sunday night , as she explained why she does n't like to be labeled as gay or African-American . The actress confirmed that she 's in `` an amazing , happy relationship '' with her partner , who is a woman , but added that she does n't `` need a categorizing statement for it . '' `` I do n't want to be labeled gay , '' Raven-Symone said . `` I want to be labeled a human who loves humans . '' Raven-Symone says she 's a lesbian , grateful for legalized gay marriage . The former Disney star 's sexuality has been in headlines since she tweeted in August 2013 that she was happy for the legalization of gay marriage , as it meant that she could `` finally get married ! '' But that was n't exactly a statement on her love life , Raven-Symone told Winfrey . `` That was my way of saying I 'm proud of the country . ... My mother and people in my family have taught me to keep my personal life to myself as much as possible . I try my best to hold the fence where I can . But I am proud to be who I am and what I am . '' Raven-Symone recalled realizing her sexuality `` when I was like 12 ; I was looking at everything , '' she said with a laugh . But she added that she `` does n't need language '' to explain whom she likes -- or , for that matter , her race . Raven-Symone : My sexuality is my business . `` I 'm tired of being labeled , '' Raven-Symone told Winfrey . `` I 'm an American ; I 'm not an African-American . I 'm an American . '' Her statement caught even Winfrey off-guard , as the media mogul took a moment to process the actress ' comment while jokingly warning her , `` do n't set Twitter on fire ! '' Raven-Symone defended her stance , explaining that she does n't `` know where my roots go to ; I do n't know how far back they go . I do n't know what country in Africa I 'm from . But I do know that my roots are in Louisiana . I 'm an American , and that 's a colorless person , because we 're all people . I have lots of things running through my veins . '' Winfrey , telling Raven-Symone that she was in for `` a lot of flak for saying you 're not African-American , '' gave her another opportunity to be precise about her perspective . `` I do n't label myself . What I really mean by that is I 'm an American , '' the actres continued . `` I have darker skin . I have a nice , interesting grade of hair . I connect with Caucasian . I connect with Asian . I connect with black . ... I connect with each culture . ... Are n't we all ( a melting pot ) ? Is n't that what America 's supposed to be ? ''
Actress Raven-Symone eschews labels like gay and African-American . "I don't think I have to be black or gay," she said. She also sees herself as just an American , `` a colorless person , because we 're all people ''