The mom on Family Ties is a lesbian. Well, the actress playing her is. When the media found was on a lesbian cruise with her partner, she decided to come out about being a later-in-life lesbian. Meredith Baxter (born June 21, 1947), also known for some years as Meredith Baxter-Birney, is an American actress and producer. She is known for her acting roles including three television series: Family (1976–1980), an ABC television-network drama, Family Ties (1982–1989), an NBC television-network situation comedy, and Dan Vs. (2011–present), a situation comedy on The Hub television-network.

Meredith Baxter was a guest of Matt Lauer's on The Today Show on December 2, 2009, where she announced that she is a lesbian. "I am a lesbian.
It was a later in life recognition of that fact," she said.

Meredith Baxter says she came out at age 55. She explains what it was like to come out later in life. "I got involved with someone I never expected to get involved with and it was that kind of an awakening. I never fought it because it was like, oh, I understand."

Meredith Baxter says she has been dating her partner Nancy for about four years. Nancy is a general contractor and drives a truck for work. Meredith was afraid at first of the media finding out she was dating a woman. She asked her to park her truck down the block. Nancy said she wouldn't. Meredith said she realized, “It wasn’t fair to push her back into some kind of secrecy.”

Meredith Baxter was married three times and has five children, all whom she say accept her. She said when she told her oldest son, he said, "I knew." She was afraid to tell her step dad, but when she did she said, “I’m dating women.” He replied, “So am I.” And that was it. She says her family was great and supportive.

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