In this publicity image released by NBC Universal, actress Meredith Baxter, left, is shown during an interview with Matt Lauer on the "Today" show, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/NBC, Peter Kramer)
She was the quintessential TV mom on Family Ties. The actress best known as Meredith Baxter Birney, revealed on the Today show that she is a lesbian. She dropped Birney from her name after she split from husband actor David Birney.
Today Show video below. She is also telling her story to People Magazine. She has been thrrough three failed marriages. She tells People she first dated women seven years ago. She has been in a four-year relationship with building contractor, Nancy Locke.
She says her family and her Family Ties co-stars are very supportive.
"I feel like I am being honest for the first time," she told People.
Comments (31)
yeah she looks like a dike
is this for publicity? because who has thought about MBB in 20 years? not me.
Good for her. Not a big shock though.
who cares?! and who's surprised?
who is she? don't know her..
Now when is Matt Mauer coming out?
Oops... I meant, now when is Matt Lauer coming out?
Why is it so important to tell the world of your sexual preferences? WHO CARES????
If you live your life as a straight person most of your existence, why come out so late in life. I hope she doesn't have children - people who do this kind of thing are so selfish!
Perez Hilton was going to out her, she decided to take control of the situation. If you don't care, why did you read this and comment?
It's important for all people to be open about their sexual orientation. It's much easier to discriminate against gays and lesbians when you don't know any personally. I applaud her openness and encourage others to do the same.
Wow so Meredith just within the last 7 years has come to the realization that she is a lesbian, After 3 failed marriages and 5 children. Does Meredith not think that her role which she played back in like 1993 as a lesbian had anything to do with it, I am sure she had to do some "tender" moments for that movie and well I think she just thought the grass would be greener on the other side, for whatever reason. She was LOST but now FOUND
Wow so Meredith just within the last 7 years has come to the realization that she is a lesbian, After 3 failed marriages and 5 children. Does Meredith not think that her role which she played back in like 1993 as a lesbian had anything to do with it, I am sure she had to do some "tender" moments for that movie and well I think she just thought the grass would be greener on the other side, for whatever reason. She was LOST but now FOUND
I think her's is a perfect illustration of how, in some cases, homosexuality is a chosen lifestyle. Although it's apparent that some folks are born with a predisposition to same-sex attraction, for others it's a choice. I think it's pretty silly to say that at her age she suddenly had this epiphany that, "Oh my gosh - I just realized I'm gay." Rather, it's pretty clear that her negative experiences in relationships with men have created an attitude of being open to a same-sex relationship. It's actually understandable (not saying I agree with it but I can understand it). The irritating thing to me about it is that you'll never hear someone from the GLBT community admit that sometimes being "gay" is simply a choice and not an inherent predisposition.
PPL...THINK before you decide to make a comment. It is true...ignorance is bliss...and common sense is certainly not common these days.
No, it is not important for "everyone" to be so open about their sexual orientation. Unless you are close someone, they do not CARE who you sleep with. This is private.
I applaud her for coming out. I am a lesbian - I have known I am a lesbian for as far back as I remember. I did date men, but found it unappealing and did not understand romantic feelings until my first exp. with a woman. I do hear of people coming out later in life. Though I cannot relate, I do understand trying to "play it straight" and the lack of emotional connection when doing this. Could it be fear holding people back? Also, the comment made regarding her having kids...common people. Get out of the dark ages.
NBC and all the other networks that put somebody like this on TV to talk about crap like this are pathetic. It makes me want to puke. This is a lifestyle she has chosen and she wasn't born that way. I feel sorry for her family.
Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor HOMOSEXUALS, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an ABOMINATION. Leviticus 18:22.
Don't buy into the lie.
Yahoo! I am so happy for her and for us lesbians to have another great role model! She is great looking too! I knew I always liked her but now she is special because she is gay like me. I wonder what she thought about Kristy McNichol who is also a lesbian from the show Family. I want to meet both of them!
She clearly felt now was the time her outing b/c her action may have an impact on gay marriage legislation. I went to school in Andover w/ daughter Kate & know at that time 88-92 that her mom was very unhappy & intense although married. I cannot believe it impossible that a woman's body goes through so much hormonal & physical change post menopause that it could effect sexual orientation.
Meredith Baxter-Birney is a name that no one has heard in so many years! I think this is a publicity stunt to get her name back in the news! Just like Madonna and Britney...when their popularity starts to fade...they re-invent themselves. Meredith is just following suit.
Three marriages and five kids later she found this out in her 60's? She wants to blame all her relationship problems on not knowing sooner that she was homosexual. This is ridiculous. I feel sorry for her family who she says are supportive. If they are, they are just as morally screwed up as she is. No one has a right to that which is morally wrong.
You anti- gay posters are sad patheticand very uneducated. Get back in your double wide trailers, open another Miller lite, and keep your bigoted views to yourself. What else do you approve of : genocide, slavery? Let people live their lives without denouncing things that aren't going to hurt you . In my experience, people who are distraught over others behavior, fear they might be susceptible to that behavior themselves. God loves everyone, so knock off the fire and brimstone too. Only people who upset God are those who hate others for their differences. Go to college, read a book at least and ascend to a level of education where you can embrace this advice. Shameful.
Who cares? Why is everyone so concerned with everyone's sexuality? I really think the phrase, "don't ask, don't tell" is perfect. I am hetero but I really don't want to witness acts in the street, whether it be hetero or homo. Go get a room! And don't tell me about it! Keep your private lives to yourselves!
I did not admit even to myself that I was gay until I was 36 years old. I had "dated" and had relationships with men from the time I was 16 years old. There are a lot of reasons I did not come out until much later in life, including being told by my mom that she could never accept me if I came home with a woman and indoctrination by my church that homosexuality was wrong and homosexuals will burn in hell. Coming out later on in life is not "a choice" it is just finally allowing oneself to be honest with who you are. It takes a lot of courage to face a society that goes to great lengths to instill in us what it expects us to do to have a "normal" life. Ms. Baxter tried to go down that path and be married, have kids, etc. Congratulations to her for finally being true to herself. By doing so she will be much happier and in turn her family will be to.
dee was spot on with:
Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor HOMOSEXUALS, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9
Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor HOMOSEXUALS, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9
I just want to ask all the "straight" people if being a homosexual is a choice why, is it when "straight" people are asked if they could sleep with the same sex why do they always have the same answer? No Way!! It is a choice or is it not???? So the homosexuals could sleep with the opposite sex and enjoy if we choose. Same as "straight" people could sleep with the same sex if they choose and enjoy????
Like...who gives a damn..?
I heard that gives support to law enforcement on the evils of drugs. But has Meredith Baxter ever gone to jail? The hypcrocracy in this country to talk smack, and not pay the legal price that millions of poorer people deal just isn't right.
I hope she gets hit by an Alcohol truck which slams her into a tabocco vehicle, crushing her corpse into a prohibitionist pulp.
Thanks for nothing Meredith Baxter.
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