family-ties-lesbian“Next year,” Alex P. Keaton thought at Lilith Fair, “*I* get to pick the family concert.”

Meredith Baxter, best known as the matriarch on the beloved ’80s sitcom “Family Ties,” has admitted that she is homosexual, causing a ripple through the Internet as people say, “Who? Oh, right. Whatever.”

After recent reports [said] 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. [Popeater]

Honestly, I’m embarrassed that this is news. “Family Ties” went off the air TWENTY YEARS ago, and while I’d hate to dismiss her work in such groundbreaking TV movies as My Breast, it’s not like Meredith Baxter’s sexuality is something that I’ve ever considered even once in my entire life until today. But whatever: good for you, Mer. Embrace being out of the closet. Wear those oversized cargo shorts with pride.