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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
"And in those days even the women did turn form that which is right to that which is against God and nature itself." Rom:1 A sign of the times and very sad to see another soul lost to sin.
December 4, 2009 - 2:52pmThis Comment
"Judge not, that ye be not judged.For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" Matt:7 I can quote the Bible to fit my beliefs too! (BTW, this is a quote directly from Jesus, not made up by Paul, some 50 years after the fact.)
January 25, 2010 - 9:33amThis Comment
Much more sad to see you, a small minded person judging the lives of others. I hope you'll wake up one day.
December 14, 2009 - 7:28pmThis Comment
I'm a 44 y/o guy, and just embraced my homosexuality after aa failed marriage! Congrats to Meredith
December 4, 2009 - 11:12amThis Comment
I love it. There is nothing "Queer" about loving another human being. It is our personal choice.... Bless you..
December 3, 2009 - 2:08pmThis Comment
I wrote a novel about a woman coming out late-in-life called Seeking Sara Summers. For these women it isn't about getting their 15 minutes of fame (a criticism of Meredith Baxter on another site), it's about getting a life. I think it takes a tremendous amount of courage to simply be who you are.
December 3, 2009 - 8:31amThis Comment
I think she has a chance now to have a happier and more peaceful life. I just want her to be happy. A guy
December 2, 2009 - 7:43pmThis Comment
Who knew? Well, I always sort of wondered.....thought so....okay....hoped
December 2, 2009 - 4:15pmThis Comment
I'm proud to be of her and take alot more pride in my decision of coming out more each day when I hear stories like her's. much love for her and her family!
December 2, 2009 - 2:23pmThis Comment
No one should have to come out alone. If you're ready, just say "Help Me Out!" www.helpmeouttv.com
December 2, 2009 - 12:09pmThis Comment