American actress Amber Heard spoke publicly about her sexuality on Friday night, while attending the Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) 25th anniversary gala in Los Angeles with her girlfriend Tasya van Ree.

Walking the red carpet before later taking the stage to hand the “Founder’s Award” to GLAAD/LA Founder and First Executive Director Richard Jennings, Heard told AfterEllen.com that she was honoured to be taking part in the event, as “GLAAD is one of the many reasons that I, as a 24-year-old, can come out.”

Although the couple have been together since 2008, and openly gay photographer van Ree has previously referred to Heard as her “muse”, the announcement is the first official word from the star of Zombieland, Pineapple Express and All The Boys Love Mandy Lane.

Heard  honestly articulated her reasons for speaking out, explaining: “I am acutely aware of the role that the media plays in influencing public opinion and influencing society, and with that awareness comes the burden of responsibility. When I became aware of my role in the media, I had to ask myself an important question ‘Am I part of the problem?’”

“I can’t be a part of the problem. I personally think that if you deny something, or if you hide something you’re inadvertently admitting it’s wrong. I don’t feel like I’m wrong. I don’t feel like millions of people are wrong because they love who they love or they were born how they were born.”

Heard went on to say that it was time for people to “decide which side they were on” in the battle between equality and “those horrible people spreading hate and bigotry”, before concluding that gay equality is “our generation’s civil rights movement”.

Asked about her relationship, the actress responded succinctly, “She’s so beautiful. I mean, you’d have to be crazy not to want to go out with her!”

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