Meredith Baxter Reveals She's Gay

By PopEater Staff Posted Dec 2nd 2009 07:56AM

After recent reports say 'Family Ties' mom Meredith Baxter was spotted on a gay cruise, the actress is coming clean on 'Today,' saying: "I want to say I'm a lesbian, and it was a later-in-life recognition." In an interview with Matt Lauer, Baxter -- who has been married three times and has five children -- says she figured out her sexuality seven years ago.

"Some people would say, well, you're living a lie and, you know, the truth is – not at all. This has only been for the past seven years," Baxter told Lauer. She says she didn't disclose this before because she has "always lived a very private life," and that "to come out and disclose stuff is very antithetical to who I am."

Baxter says that she realized she needed to come forward because she "got involved with someone I never expected to get involved with, and it was an awakening. I understood why I have the issue in my life ... I was involved with people who made me think they're the problem. It never occurred to me, that it was me," Baxter said.

The actress has been dating building contractor Nancy Locke for four years and acknowledges that she's the reason she decided to come out publicly.

"As much as my family knew, I was not ready to make any big announcement, I didn't want to do that. And there was one time when I was concerned that there might be some press interest ... I didn't know but I got a little paranoid and Nancy's a general contractor so she has a truck ... And I said, 'Could you park down the street, please?' and she said, 'No.'" Meredith explained.

"I had to reach a level of comfort because it wasn't fair to push her back into secrecy. We live very out lives in Los Angeles," she said.

According to LimeLife, Locke, who is 54, and Baxter met through mutual friends.

Speculation about Meredith's sexuality was raised when tabloid magazine The National Enquirer reported that she was spotted on a gay cruise recently.

Baxter shot to fame thanks to her role as matriarch Elyse Keaton on the hit '80s sitcom 'Family Ties.' Before her success there, she already had a long career in showbiz, with acting gigs dating all the way back to 1971. She had stints on 'The Love Boat,' 'Family' and 'Bridget Loves Bernie,' among other shows and movies.

Watch: Vintage 'Family Ties' Christmas Story

Baxter has five children from three separate marriages. She had two children with husband Ted Bush, and later had three more with David Birney.

In recent years, Baxter has become very focused on charity work since she survived breast cancer. She's since started her own charity -- the Meredith Baxter Foundation for Breast Cancer Research.

Tags: family ties, FamilyTies, meredith baxter, MeredithBaxter, today show, TodayShow

Comments

(855)

Wednesday 02 December

By Vic

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Say it ain't so Mrs. Keaton!

By Jim

I can just see the South Park episode to handle this one... Ms. Garrison screaming.."Scissor me Merideth, scissor me!" Seriously though, if she is happy, then we should all be equally happy for her!

I am a straight guy, but I have absolutely no problem at all with this issue. Gays have every right as any other person in my book. One of the best friends I ever had in my life was gay, and the man was one of the finest hman beings I had ever met. Sadly, he died about 9 years ago, but he left this life with an abundance of friends, both gay and straight alike. And for those of you that can only imaging gays as wrist flapping little fairy types, think again. If you had ever met the man, you would never have guessed in a million years that he was gay. I had known him for over 25 years before he admitted it to me, and man, was I shocked. Still, I maitianed the friendship because I knew him as a decent person. I never once judged him. We all need to see that it isn't what your sexual preference is, or what color you are, or even what religion you practice. It is WHO YOU ARE that defines you. My best wishes to Merideth!

By amy thornton

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Well. Duh...

By James

Lesbianism. I hear it's an acquired, ah, taste.

By Joyce

I met Meredith a couple of yrs ago. I was speaking at a conference in Los Angeles. She was so sweet and had the kindess words to share with me.
I am a Lesbian. Guess my radar was off that day. I had no idea, but I'm glad she found the courage to be who she is and not have to go thru hiding from something that is such a small part of what makes the whole Meredith.

By Jason

I see an interview with Ellen Degeneres in her future.

By Jae

It's easy to say you're gay when the opposite sex finds you repulsive.

Thursday 21 January

By john

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This is sick, i'm repulsed by her outing. It feels physically revolting. Looks like nancy her contractor was on a recruiting mission and lured her in.

By mickey

She's so ugly, she had no choice.

By Ol' Joe

What is normal about sphincter stretching from the outside in?

I'm Ol' Joe and I approve this message.

By AngieP

Who the EFF cares if a "star" is gay? Why does she have to go on national television and announce it to the world? Do straight people announce that they're straight? It's so stupid. Big Deal!!!

By Jimbo

She's gay? Humph. That's queer!

Saturday 05 December

By babymomma

oh but it is true and somehow it doesn't affect my life in the least. Good for her. If she's gay, well, then let her be. The bible doesn't say a thing about lesbians and a only a few words about gay men. I think Jesus was more concerned with social injustice of his time, and we should be the same. let's get up in arms over helping the poor and needy and less concerned about who loves who. That's what jesus would do.

By ThisIsNuts!

Is there ANY Hollywood personality who ISN'T gay??? What is with these people? Enough already! Just, please, everyone.... go back in the closet. Allow 'normal' to rule once again. (Yes.... I said NORMAL!) What? You are offended that I don't refer to gays as 'normal'? um... let me think, do I care? No.

By Barbwa is like buttah!

Wanted to get on here before all you knuckledraggers, closeted republipigs and homophobes galore to wish Meredith the best and a happy future with her partner.

GAY MARRIAGE NOW - A RIGHT, NOT A 'CHOICE'.

By who are you

You’re ass to group all Republicans into one category! (but who can blame you with idiots like Elisabeth Hasselbeck foaming at the mouth public tv) I may not believe in the unity of the same sex under God, but so be it from me if someone wants to make a pledge to each other in front of God and family. It is their duty to explain to there God why they chose to live in ‘sin’; just like I will have to explain to God, Christ Jesus, why I chose to be ‘prejudice’ and stick to his Testaments.

By E-Dude

You lie to yourself to cover up more lies.

By Jessie

I am a proud, conservative Republican ... I am neither a Pig nor a homophobe. I have friends and members of my family who are gay. I say live and let live. Just because I choose to live my life one way does not mean I think I have the right to force my lifestyle or beliefs on someone else. My motto is: Be kind, be tolerant, love one another and trust God. I resent the implication that every conservative Republican is a radical. WE ARE NOT ALL CRAZY BIBLE-THUMPERS! TRUE Christians know that it is up to God to judge ALL of us ... including those who pass judgement on others.

By Bobby

Gay marriage is not a right! When will you perverts learn this? Marriage is a Holy Sacramento of God, NOT, The right of The American Government The US Gov only controls it because they want to tax it. Stay out of my church unless you plan on repenting your sick ways. I cant wait till judgement day when all the gays are scrambling to go to heaven and God denies them their place in line.

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