# Meredith Baxter is gay? Who gives a fuck??? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 3, 2009, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832 "2009-12-03T11:36:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/41 "2009-12-03T19:51:02Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > Who is Meredith Baxter? The lead in an untold number of “evil men”, “woman scorned” and “woman in jepopardy” movies on the Lifetime Network. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/42 "2009-12-03T20:07:28Z")
How do we define “lesbian”? Baxter’s been married three times, one marriage lasting over ten years, and has born 5 kids. She appears to have started dating women once she was past her child bearing years - sort of a reverse version of lesbian-until-graduation. Either she’s the world’s greatest martyr to heterosexual conformity, or she’s a bisexual who happens to be with a woman now. > [@](#): > > The lead in an untold number of “evil men”, “woman scorned” and “woman in jepopardy” movies on the Lifetime Network. … with amazing knockers. MILF-tastic even. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/43 "2009-12-03T20:18:10Z")
I think what she’s doing is a good thing. There’s a whole older generation who is very aware of who she is, and that generation is also less accepting of homosexuality than younger ones. This helps bring the idea of more tolerance to a group of people where there is still a LOT of prejudice. If **cubsfan** is annoyed by this, he could consider not letting other people live rent-free in his head like that. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/44 "2009-12-03T20:19:43Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > Either she’s the world’s greatest martyr to heterosexual conformity Which is how large numbers of homosexuals lived out their lives until the last few decades. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/45 "2009-12-03T20:27:24Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I also think we’ve long gone past the point for an actor’s life would be ruined by being outed. A lot of gay people go into the arts. This is just accepted now. The next frontier will be an active gay athlete in one of the big four sports or NASCAR. An actor coming out as gay may affect a handful of parts they may or may not have gotten, but you can point to dozens of gay actors who have thriving careers. Rupert Everett [disagrees](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dailydish/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=52636) with you there. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/46 "2009-12-03T20:31:27Z")
FYI, she was not in Petticoat Junction, that was Meredith MacRae. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/47 "2009-12-03T20:35:44Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Rupert Everett [disagrees](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dailydish/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=52636) with you there. Rupert Everett is a whiny baby that makes the same statement to the press every time a quasi-famous person comes out. It’s his last trick to remain relevant after a hit-and-miss career. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/48 "2009-12-03T20:46:56Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > And as the Penguin in the 60s “Batman” series. I also liked her “I’m a Lipton Iced Tea _Lover_!” commercials. [snerk]Burgess Meredith[/snerk] Don’t forget she did color commentary for Sunday Night Football! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/49 "2009-12-03T20:56:29Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I think what she’s doing is a good thing. There’s a whole older generation who is very aware of who she is, and that generation is also less accepting of homosexuality than younger ones. > > This helps bring the idea of more tolerance to a group of people where there is still a LOT of prejudice. I agree. Plus, hey, I’ll admit I simply find the story interesting. I’m not huge into celeb stories, but I clicked this one. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/50 "2009-12-03T21:35:08Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > First, the stories suggest that Baxter was not even sure about her own sexuality for quite a long time. She doesn’t say that her marriages were a sham or a cover for her lesbianism; it’s more that she came to discover her lesbianism later in life. That’s the part I wonder about. Is it really possible to be homosexual and not know it until late in life? How does that work? ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/51 "2009-12-03T21:38:49Z")
> [@Encinitas](#): > > [snerk]Burgess Meredith[/snerk] > > Don’t forget she did color commentary for Sunday Night Football! 😛 I’ll just say it’ll forever change the way I see her character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Incredible makeup … ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/52 "2009-12-03T21:40:28Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Then she was hiding it from herself. Hahahaha, because of course it’s genetic right? ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/53 "2009-12-03T21:45:15Z")
I find this very interesting and keep wondering: What goes on during a gay cruise? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/54 "2009-12-03T21:46:43Z")
Well, cruising. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/55 "2009-12-03T21:51:36Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > What goes on during a gay cruise? Not Katie Holmes! ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/56 "2009-12-03T21:55:47Z")
She did appear as a guest star on The Partridge Family. She was a free-spirited teen they met when she was skinny-dipping in a lake near where the bus broke down. They were friendly with her, and she gave them a million dollars. She looked like a very cute teenaged girl (had both Keith and Danny drooling), though she was actually 23 or so at the time. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/57 "2009-12-03T22:05:40Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > How do we define “lesbian”? > > Baxter’s been married three times, one marriage lasting over ten years, and has born 5 kids. She appears to have started dating women once she was past her child bearing years - sort of a reverse version of lesbian-until-graduation. > > Either she’s the world’s greatest martyr to heterosexual conformity, or she’s a bisexual who happens to be with a woman now. Firstly, i’m not sure why that matters. Second, perhaps she did all the other stuff (husband, kids, etc.) because those are precisely the sort of expectations that our culture has foisted on people. As **Qadgop** noted, more than a few homosexuals have lived their whole lives in the closet and doing hetero stuff for the sake of appearances and personal security. I don’t claim to know what’s in her head, or how she felt about her sexuality before, and i don’t think it’s really of much concern to me. As long as she’s doing what makes her happy, that’s all that really counts. > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > That’s the part I wonder about. Is it really possible to be homosexual and not know it until late in life? How does that work? From some accounts i’ve heard and read, it does seem possible. Some people who come out later in life talk about being in heterosexual relationships and never really being happy, but also not really knowing why. Then they have a gay relationship and it clicks that this is what they should have been doing all along. Again, i have no personal experience of this. I’m straight, and have always felt attracted to women. I can only go by what i’ve been told, and what i’ve read. And obviously, as with any group of people, the experiences and the motivations and the changes that gay people go through during their lives will vary tremendously from person to person. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/58 "2009-12-03T22:30:34Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Which is how large numbers of homosexuals lived out their lives until the last few decades. Jodie Foster’s fifteen years younger than Baxter, but she never went so far as to marry 3 different guys in a row and have a whole bunch of kids. What Foster did was keep quiet about her romantic life and maintain a long relationship with her “wife”. This is strictly anecdotal, but I’ve known several lesbians who, at times, enjoyed sex with men, and even fell in love with men. Once the lust wore off, though, they realized they were with partners who could never really communicate and intuitively understand them in the way that they wanted. It was never going to work, so they stopped doing that, and went off to find someone they could be happy with in a long term relationship. In my opinion, that’s not Baxter. She married a string of handsome, charming, successful men, and had a houseful of kids. She came from a show business family and grew up in LA. She’s been working as a Hwd actress since she was a child. Open secret lesbian relationships have been old hat in Hollywood since the Twenties. Baxter could have been in them and stayed single just like Foster did. Instead, she married and had lots of kids. She couldn’t have been under that much social pressure. She did what she did because she wanted to, because she liked it. In hopes of topping my previous heights of vulgarity, I’ll say that only a sausage lover goes back for second and third helpings. Later in life, after some changes to her hormonal profile, she discovers that she also likes clams. She’s omnivorous. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/59 "2009-12-03T22:38:35Z")
I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that **Belowjob** is a heterosexual. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/60 "2009-12-03T22:44:01Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that **Belowjob** is a heterosexual. Obviously. 😃 > [@](#): > > … with amazing knockers. MILF-tastic even. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832.md?page=4)