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    Kristy McNichol Comes Out of the Closet to Help Bullied Kids

    Kristy McNichol, famous for her roles on the TV series "Family" and "Empty Nest," has come out of the closet in an effort to help children being bullied.

    McNichol, 49, has lived with her partner Martie Allen, for the past two decades.

    She decided to make a statement about her sexuality and share a photo because she is "approaching 50? and wants to "be open about who I am," People Magazine reported.

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

    McNichol was best known for her roles on the drama "Family," for which she won two Emmy Awards, and later "Empty Nest." She has also starred in several films, including "Little Darlings" in 1980 with Tatum O'Neal.

    McNichol was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1992, and subsequently ended her television career. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

    "She is very happy and healthy," says Ballard, according to People Magazine. "And she enjoys living a very private life."

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    • Afterschool  •  League City, Texas  •  4 mths ago
      We've known about that for years. Had a crush on her as a kid, and was devistated when I found out I had no chance with her. My mom cheered me up when she reminded me that I don't have a chance with anybody. That kinda put things in perspective. Thanks, Mom!
      • T P 4 mths ago
        LOL! Good one, Afterschool!
      • MysticalV 4 mths ago
        AWW, Afterschool, I am not your Mom but I am a Mom, so I'll say "Baby, she's not the one for you, but the right girl WILL come along."
      • Wendel 4 mths ago
        Very funny, Afterschool!
    • BlueJar  •  Tampa, Florida  •  4 mths ago
      Everybody knew she was gay, it was Meredith Baxter Birney that was a surprise.
      • Daniel D 4 mths ago
        all those movies on the Lifetime channel took their toll.
      • A 4 mths ago
        thats funny Blue Jar!
      • technoposer 4 mths ago
        True.
    • Brayden  •  Tampa, Florida  •  4 mths ago
      This falls under one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood. Next Richard Simmons will come out of the closet.
    • Mia  •  4 mths ago
      When was she ever in the closet? I knew she was gay when she was on Family!
      • huh 4 mths ago
        LOL. I know, right? I thought she had been out. This is NOT news!
      • Paul Morphy 4 mths ago
        You're on Yahoo! Did you expect to get actual news here? That in itself would be newsworthy.
      • Nancy 4 mths ago
        Not gay... just homosexual. Nothing gay about it.
    • Lobster_del_Amor  •  4 mths ago
      I can't wait for someone in Hollywood to come out straight.
      • chrisinsc_1999b 4 mths ago
        now THAT would be shocking
      • Ellie 4 mths ago
        Kelly Clarkson keeps announcing that she's not a lesbian every time she has an interview it seems.
      • America love it or leave ... 4 mths ago
        It's kinda hard to "come out" if you've never been in. This closet thing ain't exactly for straight people. There just ain't enough room in there for the finer way of life. Thank God my wife and I still need room to roam when we're making out and that closet was just too small.
    • eyeofthemind  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  4 mths ago
      Kristy gay? What a shocker. Next thing you know Johnny Weir will come out.
    • Joni  •  Fayetteville, North Carolina  •  4 mths ago
      Thought she came out years ago...
    • df  •  Naperville, Illinois  •  4 mths ago
      Kristy McNicol gay? next your going to tell me Jodie Foster is gay?
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Portland, Oregon  •  4 mths ago
      Kristy shared a photo....yahoo is not sharing....psants...
    • cada dia solo pienso  •  4 mths ago
      This is news ?
    • Steve  •  4 mths ago
      Uh Kristie, yeah....we knew lol.
    • Kevin R  •  Varde, Denmark  •  4 mths ago
      When was she in the closet?
    • Milton Stapler  •  4 mths ago
      Really? Next thing you know Ellen Degeneres will come out of the closet. Unbelieveable!
    • Raymond  •  4 mths ago
      We've known about that for years. Had a crush on her as a kid, and was devistated when I found out I had no chance with her.
    • Kid Icarus  •  San Diego, California  •  4 mths ago
      yeah, she was actually 'in the closet' when?
    • WilliamM  •  4 mths ago
      I'm just amazed that after nearly two decades of near irrelevance, she still has a publicist.
    • georgie corgi  •  Cleveland, Ohio  •  4 mths ago
      I'm stuck under the couch.
    • allieb  •  Kenosha, Wisconsin  •  4 mths ago
      What cracks me up is her coming out to help teens who are bullied. Teens are probably asking: who's this Kristy McNichol anyway? How much of an impact with an unknown actress for this generations of teens be?
    • Perfect One sucks  •  4 mths ago
      She came out many moons ago. Yahoo is reporting old news AGAIN.
    • yahoo user  •  4 mths ago
      Heterosexuals ARE BULLIED ALSO! What about all them????