Announcing You're Gay at 62: Meredith Baxter (Publicly) Comes Out of the Closet

[Principessa]

Just heard it on The View and was shocked given her marital past.
What bothers me is that it appears she was forced to come out because of pics Perez Hilton posted on his site.

Why does every gay celebrity have to support "the cause?" I know black people that are for affirmative action but aren't in the NAACP. Okay, that may not be the best analogy, but I'm hoping y'all know what I am attempting to say.

 

[D_Gunther Snotpole]

The longer someone waits to come out, the more difficult it must be in some ways.
A long life of half truths and subterfuges boxes you into a corner.
And a woman of 62, born just after the Second World War, has all sort of heterosexist programming that no 22 year old's head is full of.
So if Meredith Baxter had come out, freely, on her own, just now, I would say, 'You go, girl ... great stuff.'
I wouldn't want to detract from the moment by pointing to long years of hiding and cast her integrity into doubt.
It's just not the moment.
Of course, if Perez Hilton pushed her, then that changes things a lot. Very sick man, imo.I don't know how he sleeps at night.

 

[Flashy]

why don't you go after "open-minded" morons next?

LOL

 

[Flashy]

Just heard it on The View and was shocked given her marital past.
What bothers me is that it appears she was forced to come out because of pics Perez Hilton posted on his site.

Why does every gay celebrity have to support "the cause?" I know black people that are for affirmative action but aren't in the NAACP. Okay, that may not be the best analogy, but I'm hoping y'all know what I am attempting to say.

yes, i heard that thing about perez hilton...that guy is a nuisance...the pics were posted in the national enquirer, apparently, and also, she has lived pretty openly in LA for th past few years, so the deliberate outing over something she did not feel was important is even more upsetting, when tabloids and slimeball bloggers feel compelled to force it on someone.

she stated that her family, kids and friends had all been wonderful, happy, supportive and loving from the instant she came out...so it is not like she was in denial...but this people who browbeat celebs in to coming out, are really very nasty.

"the cause" is not more important than an individuals well being, comfort level and own timetable, with their family, friends, selves, and if they are public figures, fans.

 

[Flashy]

I do believe that you are born gay/straight/bi, but I also believe that not everyone is born with the required genes (or whatever) to work it out.

We're born into a generally straight society, generally raised by straights, go to school with straights, are taught by straights, and as such, for many, straight is the only thought that comes to mind. Like so many other things, being gay is simply something that "happens to other people" Some people struggle their whole lives wondering why every relationship goes wrong, why they never really feel that spark they hear others speak of, and why their same sex best friend means more to them than the best partner they could ever imagine.

It is easier these days in some ways, as the media has started to bring it out into the open and show it as something normal, that "happens" to normal people, and not some horrible affliction.

I'm pleased for her that she did work it out, but I'm sorry she felt pushed to share it with the world. Sexuality is the most private of things, and being outted by some asshole in the media, and then almost attacked by others for not having come to the realisation in a time frame more fitting for their needs is disgusting.

I still don't know who I am, and I'm petrified of finding out. I at least have the knowledge that I do have some self-discovery ahead. The same can't be said for everyone though.

well said.

 

[Flashy]

The longer someone waits to come out, the more difficult it must be in some ways.
A long life of half truths and subterfuges boxes you into a corner.
And a woman of 62, born just after the Second World War, has all sort of heterosexist programming that no 22 year old's head is full of.
So if Meredith Baxter had come out, freely, on her own, just now, I would say, 'You go, girl ... great stuff.'
I wouldn't want to detract from the moment by pointing to long years of hiding and cast her integrity into doubt.
It's just not the moment.
Of course, if Perez Hilton pushed her, then that changes things a lot. Very sick man, imo.I don't know how he sleeps at night.

true...if i met her on the street, i would feel compelled to just give her a "hey i'm really happy for you...way to go" even though i don't know her at all

 

[earllogjam]

Who the hell are you or Harvey Milk to tell people when and if they should come out? Everyone should be allowed to come out for their own comfort level not your agenda for the gay rights movement.

Yup, I TOTALLY AGREE. Well said.

Your sex life is your own private matter, not a political statement.

 

[jason_els]

I do believe that you are born gay/straight/bi, but I also believe that not everyone is born with the required genes (or whatever) to work it out.

We're born into a generally straight society, generally raised by straights, go to school with straights, are taught by straights, and as such, for many, straight is the only thought that comes to mind. Like so many other things, being gay is simply something that "happens to other people" Some people struggle their whole lives wondering why every relationship goes wrong, why they never really feel that spark they hear others speak of, and why their same sex best friend means more to them than the best partner they could ever imagine.

It is easier these days in some ways, as the media has started to bring it out into the open and show it as something normal, that "happens" to normal people, and not some horrible affliction.

I'm pleased for her that she did work it out, but I'm sorry she felt pushed to share it with the world. Sexuality is the most private of things, and being outted by some asshole in the media, and then almost attacked by others for not having come to the realisation in a time frame more fitting for their needs is disgusting.

I still don't know who I am, and I'm petrified of finding out. I at least have the knowledge that I do have some self-discovery ahead. The same can't be said for everyone though.

I adore this post. :You_Rock_Emoticon:

 

[D_Ireonsyd_Colonrinse]

Kotchanski writes:

I'm pleased for her that she did work it out, but I'm sorry she felt pushed to share it with the world. Sexuality is the most private of things, and being outted by some asshole in the media, and then almost attacked by others for not having come to the realisation in a time frame more fitting for their needs is disgusting.

--------------------

K: Yes, in a perfect world, sexuality is the most private of things. However, we live in a world of gay ballot initiatives (Prop 8? Question 1? Referendun 71?) and public voting of other people's lives based on stereotypes, exploitations, fears and superstitions.

Under this line of thought, the time for privacy is, politically speaking, later. After the battle. Coming out is a political act (as well as personal) essential to breaking down and combatting the walls of ignorance and (literalist) Biblical teaching.

 

[Lex]

Just heard it on The View and was shocked given her marital past.

After all your time here, why would it shock you that she had been married? Marriage is the default programming; heterosexism at its best. Get a spouse, make babies, be happy (pretend if you aren't).

Yup, I TOTALLY AGREE. Well said.

Your sex life is your own private matter, not a political statement.

I agree. At the same time, I wonder how the lives of gay men and women would change if the numerous male and female gay professional athletes, for example, stood up and were counted. I understand Milk's strength in numbers ideals, if not his means. Everyone should be afforded their privacy (or the illusion thereof).

 

[D_Gunther Snotpole]

K: Yes, in a perfect world, sexuality is the most private of things. However, we live in a world of gay ballot initiatives (Prop 8? Question 1? Referendun 71?) and public voting of other people's lives based on stereotypes, exploitations, fears and superstitions.

Under this line of thought, the time for privacy is, politically speaking, later. After the battle. Coming out is a political act (as well as personal) essential to breaking down and combatting the walls of ignorance and (literalist) Biblical teaching.

I can't believe that anything that happens in the political sphere has any bearing on the individual's moral right to determine the moment of self-revelation.
If people choose to come out, well and good.
But if one is forced into the limelight, what does that say about self-acceptance and self-affirmation?
Nothing good, I'd say.
So no gay-positive agenda is promoted.

 

[B_Stronzo]

Here's to you Meredith. The community welcomes you and applauds your candor.

To one degree or another you're in good company.

 

[CUBE]

But the real question for me is...does this mean another Betty Brodrick movie will me made?

 

[nudeyorker]

But the real question for me is...does this mean another Betty Brodrick movie will me made?

I think the only thing it really means is that Bridget really did not love Bernie!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kWtyc0-yvk

 

[Sergeant_Torpedo]

If an opinion (and a politically motivated one at that) isn't intended to offend then it shouldn't. Leave the woman alone, stop going through peoples' garbage, bank accounts or listening at bedroom doors. Get on with your own life.

 

[jason_els]

Yup, I TOTALLY AGREE. Well said.

Your sex life is your own private matter, not a political statement.

K: Yes, in a perfect world, sexuality is the most private of things. However, we live in a world of gay ballot initiatives (Prop 8? Question 1? Referendun 71?) and public voting of other people's lives based on stereotypes, exploitations, fears and superstitions.

Under this line of thought, the time for privacy is, politically speaking, later. After the battle. Coming out is a political act (as well as personal) essential to breaking down and combatting the walls of ignorance and (literalist) Biblical teaching.

Everything we do in public is a political act. There are various levels of politics: social, religious, sexual, economic, racial, employment, and governmental. Even inaction is, in itself, a political act: you choose not to do something is a public statement about your level of interest in something. Coming out is highly political on just about every level including governmental because it is a statement which encompasses many of your public beliefs, not just to who you are sexually attracted. In itself, coming out is, by its very nature, a public statement to your society (and perhaps others if you have the level of fame that someone like Baxter does) about your sexual orientation. It would be nice if everyone else did not change their opinion of you based upon your sexual orientation, but that's not what happens. Coming out creates automatic friends and enemies, it says something about your political beliefs on government, sex, religion, society, and employment. It may even say something about your racial and economic politics. Coming out does not occur in a vacuum. In coming out we make a public statement and then receive feedback on that statement. There is no such thing as coming out in private; that's an oxymoron. You may not discuss your sexual orientation with everyone, you may not even discuss it with those close to you, but if you live as a publicly out person, it's not something hidden and simply living out is in itself, a public statement. As soon as another person is involved, it becomes a political act. Baxter may gain jobs, possibly lose others. She may attract interest from some media and lose interest from others. Her friends and family may change their relationships with her. She may now be seen as someone favorable to some government-oriented political causes but not others. She may be seen as an ally of some politicians and an enemy of others. She may be sent gay-oriented catalogs, solicited by gay-friendly businesses, and be snubbed by others. Now that we know Baxter is gay, our perception of her changes on various political levels whether we believe that perception should change or not.

 

[B_Stronzo]

Spot on target Jason. Well-written post above.

 

[invisibleman]

Now we all can deal with each other's real.