For anyone who reads my sporadically updated Lifetime Kills column (which I promise to update soon), you are well aware of my love for the basic cable channel that features delish delights of scandalous scandal, tawdry tawdriness and (G-rated) sexy sex. It's Television for Women and by and large it delivers. If you're aware of Lifetime, then certainly you're no stranger to the second half of Meredith Baxter's impressive resume. Maybe it's because of my connection with these movies (and of course, watching her for years on Family Ties), that had me feeling overjoyed watching Meredith on the Today Show when she told Matt Lauer she was gay...
Taking on everything from murderous ex-wives to drug addicts to women who should be riding the short bus, Meredith is the Queen of Lifetime. Melissa Gilbert comes close, but Meredith has a real handle on this everywoman thing. Sorry Melissa.
It's not that I really care if she's gay or straight, but there is something so uplifting about watching a woman finding her real place in the world. She said on the Today Show that she had a couple of "Aha!" moments that led her to finding her current partner, whom she's been with for the last four years. And there are several reasons she’s now talking about her sexual preference with the world. Even though she lives as an openly gay woman with her friends, family and ex-cast mates, Meredith got the word that she might be outed by a tabloid. So she took the reins into her hands and decided to tell the world in her own words. And she was one class act.
Why is this so important, you ask? I want to go back to this everywoman thing. Meredith has been a fairly steady mainstay on television since Family Ties in the 80s (not to mention starring on Bridget Love Bernie in the 70s) and for many of us, she is a welcome face. A pretty blonde with great comic timing who can also wreak vengeance (Betty Broderick, anyone?), she’s has become synonymous with Television for Women. And although she chooses not to be political about coming out, Meredith did say that she hopes she can put a friendly face to those out there who are so compelled to vote against gay marriage. She hopes they realize that she’s still the same mother/actress/woman she’s always been. So now Meredith, who is 62 years old, has approached a new era of her life - an era that fulfills her and brings her the happiness we all so richly deserve. How could anyone begrudge that?
For anyone who reads my sporadically updated 
