Cosby Show Star Raven-Symone Comes Out as Lesbian: Tweets Thanks to Government for Legalising Gay Marriage

American actress and singer Raven-Symone has come out of the closet and confirmed she is a lesbian.

The 27-year-old former Disney star made her debut on The Cosby Show when she was three years old. She took to Twitter to share her excitement about the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and legalisation of gay marriage in Rhode Island and Minnesota.

"I can finally get married! Yay government! So proud of you," she tweeted.

"I am very happy that gay marriage is opening up around the country and is being accepted. I was excited to hear today that more states legalised gay marriage. I, however am not currently getting married, but it is great to know I can now, should I wish to," Symone told E! News.

"Raven is not getting married. She was just supporting the fact that she heard on NPR that more states legalized gay marriage today," a spokesperson for Symone said in a statement.

Speculation about the star's sexuality has circulated for some time, and in May 2012, a report in the National Enquirer, carried by The Stir, not only hinted she was a lesbian but was dating AzMarie Livingstone, a contestant on America's Next Top Model.

"My sexual orientation is mine, and (something for) the person I'm dating to know. I'm not one for a public display of my life," she tweeted at the time, adding, "However that is my right as a human being whether straight or gay. To tell or not to tell. As long as I'm not harming anyone. I am a light being made from love. And my career is the only thing I would like to put on display, not my personal life. Kisses!"