Is it still a big deal in today’s Hollywood when an actress slated to appear on screen opposite Johnny Depp (in next year’s The Rum Diary) officially comes out of the closet? Absolutely.

At last night’s celebration of GLAAD’s 25th anniversary at Harmony Gold in Hollywood, Amber Heard (pictured, left) proudly walked the red carpet with partner Tasya van Ree as she has done before. But this time, she added an exclusive caveat via, appropriately enough, website AfterEllen.com.

Explained Heard:

I think 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 personally think that if you deny something or if you hide something you’re inadvertently admitting it’s wrong… I’m proud to be on the right side of history and I can do nothing more than encourage people to look at their lives and ask “What side of history am I on? Am I doing the right thing or am I doing the wrong thing?” I look at speeches by Martin Luther King and I cry when I read the story of Rosa Parks at the back of the bus, and I can’t help but think if I was in that era what side of history would I be on?

From a media perspective, Heard’s choice of this particular event for her “coming out” party was a savvy move; she later presented the Founder’s Award to GLAAD/LA founder Richard Jennings. Meanwhile, supportive reader comments are coming in fast and furious to the AfterEllen.com piece.