Is this news?
I'm sure by now it's not news to anyone that Meredith Baxter came out as a lesbian on the Today show on December 2. For those who don't recognize her name, she played Elyse Keaton, the mother on the 80s sitcom "Family Ties." According to her interview, she's identified as lesbian since 2002 when she entered into her first same-sex relationship, and she's been with her current partner for four years.
When I heard the news I decided to investigate for myself*. On one of the web sites I visited, the question was posed: "Why is this news?" The implication may have been why do people care?... or perhaps it was pointing to the fact that Ms. Baxter's been out in Los Angeles for years and was even spotted on a lesbian cruise**.
*It's not an uncommon thing to hear rumors about a celebrity's sexuality, though Meredith would have been an unusual one for such rumors to be about.**Or maybe they were simply trying to understand what "news" is... hmmm...
So why is this news?
This is news because Meredith Baxter was an example of motherhood in the 80s and is a mother of five in real life. She's a familiar face and someone people feel comfortable around... and she's a lesbian. In her own words:
"And I guess I'm hoping that because so much of the research indicates that people who know a lesbian or a 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 peoples' rights away…I am hoping that if I am that familiar face and you kind of like me, and I say, 'OK…I am the same person and I am a lesbian, hello,'…maybe I 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 help… [ them ] cross…over [ that hurdle ] …in some way, give someone the courage to say, you know I've been thinking about that too and I've been afraid."
This is why it's news: until homosexuals are treated equally in this country, we need to continue to celebrate and support those public figures who are courageous enough to come out and help to put a face on homosexuality. They don't need to, but when they do they remove some of the stigma associated with it, and they generate conversation that could lead to open doors for change.
I have read very few posts recently which give such a insightful picture into this subject. Thanks for sharing.
Reply to this