Former Child Star Kristy McNichol Comes Out...Finally!

For a generation of girls who like girls growing up in the 70's, Kristy McNichol was the tomboy of their dreams on the weekly drama, "Family", where she played the angst-ridden preteen, Buddy, who would rather play baseball than Barbie dolls. Her costar on the Emmy-winning show was Meredith Baxter, who played big sister Nancy, who was married to Baxter's then real life (abusive) husband David Birney.

Today, McNichol revealed what many of her fans had always believed. Like her former costar, she is a lesbian.

Via People Magazine:
Kristy McNichol has been out of the public eye for 20 years. Now she's chosen to come out – to try to help kids who are being bullied. 

McNichol, 49, who has lived with her partner Martie Allen, also 49, for the past two decades, decided to make a statement about her sexuality and share this photo because she is "approaching 50" and wants to "be open about who I am." 

She "is very sad about kids being bullied," her publicist Jeff Ballard tells PEOPLE. "She hopes that coming out can help kids who need support. She would like to help others who feel different."

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• Kristy McNichol Wants to 'Be Open About Who I Am' (people.com)
• Kristy McNichol, now 49, comes out as a lesbian and introduces her partner of two decades (miamiherald.typepad.com)