# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/121 "2009-12-06T17:45:29Z")
“Tell it again, Mom!” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/122 "2009-12-06T17:55:44Z")
She gave me the birds and bees thing by telling me dirty jokes. If I didn’t get the joke, she explained it to me, and then told me another with a similar theme. At the end of about an hour, I had a pretty good outline as to what went where and why. Plus, a whole lot of sophisticated humor to impress my friends with. Win-win-win. At the same time, she told me that all restrictions on reading were off. If I could buy it, or get it at the library, she was cool with it. “You can’t do anything you want, but you can read anything you want.” About three months later, I was walking through the halls at school and the Asst. Principal (you remember that asshole, right?) stopped me and pointed to the copy of _Brave New World_ and asked “Does your Mom know you’re reading that book!” he threatened. “My Mom recommended this book.” He called her. He wished he hadn’t. Thanks, Mom. C ya later. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/123 "2009-12-06T19:25:11Z")
Stunning discovery of private letters, revealing intimate relations between Lee Radziwill and Rula Lenska! Film at 11. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/124 "2009-12-06T19:26:15Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > She gave me the birds and bees thing by telling me dirty jokes. If I didn’t get the joke, she explained it to me, and then told me another with a similar theme. At the end of about an hour, I had a pretty good outline as to what went where and why. Plus, a whole lot of sophisticated humor to impress my friends with. Win-win-win. > > At the same time, she told me that all restrictions on reading were off. If I could buy it, or get it at the library, she was cool with it. “You can’t do anything you want, but you can read anything you want.” > > About three months later, I was walking through the halls at school and the Asst. Principal (you remember that asshole, right?) stopped me and pointed to the copy of _Brave New World_ and asked “Does your Mom know you’re reading that book!” he threatened. > > “My Mom recommended this book.” He called her. He wished he hadn’t. > > Thanks, Mom. C ya later. She sounds pretty rad, for a Mom. Thanks for sharing. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/125 "2009-12-06T19:35:30Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Is being gay still so “taboo” and “out there” that a fucking Z-list celebrity like Meredith Baxter coming out is front page news??? Seriously?? What the fuck? I remember now who she is. She’s largely forgotten now, but a generation of TV viewers does remember her as the mom on _Family Ties_. A lot of males considered her quite attractive, so much so you might say she represented an ideal of an educated, left-wing, former hippie woman. (I want to add “professional”, but I can’t remember if she had a profession in the show). ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/126 "2009-12-06T20:53:29Z")
Abortionist. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/127 "2009-12-06T21:03:09Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Because for anyone who grew up in the 80s and watched Family Ties, she was Mom. Just like your Mom. And now your Mom is licking snatch. > > That disturbs people. I turned 18 in 88 and watched Family Ties, but Meredith Baxter was never Mom to me. She was my friend’s hot mother. I’m not disturbed, though. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/128 "2009-12-06T21:04:33Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I remember now who she is. She’s largely forgotten now, but a generation of TV viewers does remember her as the mom on _Family Ties_. A lot of males considered her quite attractive, so much so you might say she represented an ideal of an educated, left-wing, former hippie woman. (I want to add “professional”, but I can’t remember if she had a profession in the show). She was an architect; her husband worked for a public television station. I am quite vexed that I remember this but not the entire list of state capitals. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/129 "2009-12-06T21:08:04Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I am quite vexed that I remember this but not the entire list of state capitals. My neurons are equally non-nonsensical (heh) and random. Drives me up the damn wall. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/130 "2009-12-06T22:09:12Z")
Oh, its OK. Even the people who live in St. Paul forget St. Paul. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/131 "2009-12-06T22:40:52Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > She was an architect; her husband worked for a public television station. I am quite vexed that I remember this but not the entire list of state capitals. That’s all of us. 0ne of my favorite stand up routines- though for the life of me I can’t remember who the comedian was- started when he asked “Who is the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture?” and nobody knew it. He then asked “Something farm related then- who was the pig on Green Acres”? and everybody screamed “Arnold!” (I freely admit I’d have to google the Sec of Ag, though I could not only tell you Arnold was adopted by the Ziffels but that there were two actresses who played Mrs. Ziffel, Arnold by dozens of pigs, and the Ziffels had a daughter who was a goat but she’d eloped.) ---
**Author:** ![5que](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/3bc359/32.png) [@5que](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5que)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/132 "2009-12-07T00:08:18Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > “Who is the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture?” Earl Butz!! Do I win a new pair of [loose] shoes? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/133 "2009-12-07T03:15:22Z")
No, you picked the wrong door, you get the warm place to shit. You don’t want to know what was behind the other door. Don’t ask. ---
**Author:** ![Pulp\_Friction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@Pulp\_Friction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pulp_Friction)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/134 "2009-12-07T18:22:36Z")
1. Celebrity announces he or she is gay. 2. Gay community (generally) applauds his/her courage. 3. Heterosexuals wonder, ‘if they claim they want equality, if they wanted to be treated like everyone else, if they say sexuality is but a small part of who they are, if they want to be accepted for who they are…_why the fuck hold a press conference to announce that you’re something that we should not make a big deal over???_’ Put another way: Twelve-toed man: “I have twelve toes.” Ten-toed man: “So?” Twelve-toed man: “I just don’t want this to be a big deal, I don’t want any special treatment.” Ten-toed man: “OK” Twelve-toed man: “Because, ya know, I have twelve toes.” ---
**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 7, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/135 "2009-12-07T18:34:36Z")
> [@Pulp\_Friction](#): > > 1. Heterosexuals wonder, 'if they claim they want equality, if they wanted to be treated like everyone else, if they say sexuality is but a small part of who they are, if they want to be accepted for who they are…_why the fuck hold a press conference to announce that you’re something that we should not make a big deal over???_ Because people are denying them basic civil rights, and the more people know about how many people are gay, people they are familiar with, maybe they will start to act less like douchebags towards them. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/136 "2009-12-07T19:20:24Z")
> [@Pulp\_Friction](#): > > 1. Heterosexuals wonder… Please don’t extrapolate your reaction to all heterosexuals. 'Specially me. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/137 "2009-12-07T21:20:04Z")
> [@Pulp\_Friction](#): > > Put another way: > > Twelve-toed man: “I have twelve toes.” > Ten-toed man: “So?” > Twelve-toed man: “I just don’t want this to be a big deal, I don’t want any special treatment.” > Ten-toed man: “OK” > Twelve-toed man: “Because, ya know, I have twelve toes.” Ten-toed man: “Got it.” Twelve-toed man: “And so does my partner. We’re planning on getting married.” Ten-toed man: “Oooh, sorry, not going to happen. Then people with 14 toes will want to get married and cats and dogs will be having sex in the streets. Plus everyone knows people with 12 toes can’t really fall in love, not the way us 10-toed people can.” Twelve-toed man: “What if I want to adopt or visit my partner in the hospital or join the army?” Ten-toed man: “Probably not, no, and you’d better keep your socks on. Anyway, why bring up your toes at all? What do you want, a medal? It’s hardly a big deal anymore, what _your_ kind does. If you had 12 toes in some other country you’d probably be killed or imprisoned. So consider yourself lucky.” ---
**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 7, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/138 "2009-12-07T21:40:04Z")
> [@Pulp\_Friction](#): > > 1. Heterosexuals wonder, ‘if they claim they want equality, if they wanted to be treated like everyone else, if they say sexuality is but a small part of who they are, if they want to be accepted for who they are…_why the fuck hold a press conference to announce that you’re something that we should not make a big deal over???_’ I think you’re missing an adjective in front of “heterosexuals.” ---
**Author:** ![Pulp\_Friction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@Pulp\_Friction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pulp_Friction)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/139 "2009-12-08T01:47:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Because people are denying them basic civil rights Heterosexuals are faced with the same restrictions that homosexuals are. I’m not allowed to enter a same-sex marriage either. ---
**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 8, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832/140 "2009-12-08T01:56:00Z")
> [@Pulp\_Friction](#): > > Heterosexuals are faced with the same restrictions that homosexuals are. > > I’m not allowed to enter a same-sex marriage either. The level of sheer stupidity or close-minded bigotry (not sure which, in your case) required to make that argument is astounding. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meredith-baxter-is-gay-who-gives-a-fuck/519832.md?page=8)