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At age 62, after three marriages and five children, Meredith Baxter is making public the fact that she is a lesbian. The beloved television mom Elise Keaton from “Family Ties” and the former wife of her “Bridget Loves Bernie” co-star David Birney appeared on the Today show this morning, speaking with Matt Lauer about her late-in-life discovery. People magazine is also reporting the story this week.
While she has been dating women for seven years and has been with her partner, building contractor Nancy Locke, for four years, only now is Baxter discussing her sexual orientation publicly.
“Some people would say, well, you’re living a lie and, you know, the truth is — not at all,” she told Lauer. “This has only been for the past seven years.”
And the admission might not have come now except for a National Enquirer story reporting that Baxter and Locke took a Caribbean cruise sponsored by a lesbian travel company last month. They knew the possibility existed that they would be outed, but they took the trip anyway.
“I don’t want to be worried all the time,” she said. “I knew I was pushing it.”
From the Today story:
“Baxter says that her relationship with men was complicated, and it took her decades to understand why.
“In 1966 she married her first husband, Robert Lewis Bush, and they divorced five years later; she married her second husband, David Birney, in 1974, and they divorced in 1989; she married her third husband, Michael Blodgett, in 1995, and they divorced in 2000.
“She explained that she deliberately chose to be with men with whom she clashed, so that she could blame them for the end of the relationship. “It never occurred to me to think, oh, [the problem is] me,” she said.
“Then, seven years ago, she had a relationship with a woman and concluded that she was homosexual. Suddenly, things seemed to make sense.
“I got involved with someone I never expected to get involved with, and it was that kind of awakening,” she said. “I never fought it because it was like, oh, I understand why I had the issues I had early in life. I had a great deal of difficulty connecting with men in relationships.”
Baxter also spoke about coming out on Sirius XM’s Frank DeCaro show:
“What impact do you think your coming out is going to have?” he asked her.
“I have to take a deep breath again. You know, I don’t know.
“I meet the public, I work with the public a lot, and I’m always thrilled at the kind of recognition I get. You know I haven’t been on prime time for 20 years, so to have that kind of recognition still is very moving for me. I guess I’m hoping that because so much of the … research indicates that people who know a lesbian or gay guy will, when they have to address political issues, when they have someone gay or lesbian in their lives they think a little more openly about these issues and they tend not to vote people’s rights away...
“So I’m hoping that, OK, if I’m that familiar face and you kinda like me, I say OK, I’m the same person, I’m lesbian, hello. Maybe I can make it a little less scary for them. There’s so much misunderstanding and fear around issues that they don’t know, that maybe I can cross that over in some way, give someone else the courage to say, you know, I’ve been thinking about that too, and I’ve been afraid.
“I was afraid for a long time.”
Baxter’s children, who range in age from 25 to 42, have all been supportive, she said.
“I said, ‘I think I’m gay,’ and my oldest boy said, ‘I knew,’ ” Baxter laughed. “The support from my family and anyone close to me has been so immediate and unqualified. I’ve really been blessed.”
The Today Show interview:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34228231/ns/today-today_people/
The Sirius XM interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK0_m3huUO0
YOUR THOUGHTS?
Do you have thoughts about Baxter’s announcement? Does it change her at all in your eyes? Or are we moving past the need for such announcements in society today?
Add a Comment43 Comments
If you had grown up,"in the closet"....you would understand,why we "come out",in the first place. It is an individual choice,one that I did not,could not, make....until I was diagnosed with stage 2b, cervical/ovarian cancer. I was 37, and am incredibably blessed,to this day,to have the parents(especially), siblings,and family/friends...in my life.
It broke my Mother's heart,thinking her own child,could not tell her.....I explained, to her, I never doubted thier love,.....never. I just .....couldn't.
As the saying goes," What does not kill you, TRULY makes you stronger.....".
I thank you,for your "open minded thoughts"....:)
Lorrie W.
January 23, 2011 - 1:54pmThis Comment
I wonder if there will ever come a time when the type of person a celebrity likes won't be "news."
April 16, 2010 - 9:48amThis Comment
So what if some guy has to rearrange his fantasies about her? I'm a lesbian and I totally understand the male fantasy of lesbians. How can they *not* be turned on by us? The only problem I have with it is the guys who think they can "fix" lesbians. The ones who just enjoy the fantasy of 2 women (who are actually lesbians, that is) without thinking they can change the women are ok by me.
March 24, 2010 - 9:55pmThis Comment
How about the three different guys she married, whom she married because they clashed. Knowing that she could blame them for the breakup? Think about the pain they went through. Thinking that it might be their fault. Maybe trying to save the marriage, when it was never savable. Lesbian is not the issue here, being untruthful, or deceptive, or manipulative is.
March 7, 2010 - 3:12pmThis Comment
That's a good point. I don't see why the bravery of coming out as a gay/lesbian public figure, although certainly laudable, should overshadow other inconsiderate and downright harmful decisions she engaged in for decades. An admirable decision later in life doesn't somehow wash away the responsibility one should have for treating others in your life with respect. I wonder if she should really be any sort of role-model the GLB community looks up to?
April 23, 2010 - 4:45pmThis Comment
I read this and my only real thought on the issue is, "so what?". She a lesbian. Big deal. I'm coming out that I'm straight! ... What? No parade? Exactly!
This public spectacle of people coming out on a national level will not make it less scary for the biggots. It will give fuel to their fire, convincing them that now the 'fags' can attack my way of life on national television but I can do nothing? My point is that this is all about how we address these people. The time for patient, polite attempts to convince the bigots that their point of view could use a little enlightening is long over. We have no need to tolerate the intolerant. Stop coming out on national tv and stop trying to convince these people otherwise. When they verbally assault you, use the legal system to put them in their place.
January 13, 2010 - 2:10pmThis Comment
Everything is being done on a national level because people in the LGB community need the support of all. We can't do it "Legally" because so far the legal side is not able and alot of times willing to do anything. We are only now starting to see laws against attacks on LGB people and even people in the justice system are fighting to keep these laws from going in place. There are strength in numbers, and with out those numbers knowing they can stand together then we have nothing. The legal system just doesn't work like how you are saying to use it. I do see your point, but unless your a part of the fight or pay a lot of attention to it on local and national levels, you wont truly understand the fact that it is not only bigoted people we are fighting but the justice system itself.
Bradley
March 22, 2010 - 5:50pmBi-sexual and Proud
This Comment
Yes. Very wise, Diane. Let us all respect one another.
December 22, 2009 - 8:41amThis Comment
I was interviewed by the Canadian associated press about this recently, because I have a novel out about this subject. The article is called “Coming Out Later in Life: Older Generation Can Face Unique Challenges. Here’s the link if anyone is interested:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/entertainment/breakingnews/78476197.html
I am encouraged by your responses. What a great group of people! Thank you!
All the best,
December 7, 2009 - 8:36amSusan
This Comment
I'm sure that Meredith Baxter would be heartened to see the response here. As recently as 10 years ago it might not have been as supportive and open as it is today.
December 7, 2009 - 7:54amThis Comment