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."

Best known for her Emmy Award-winning role as Buddy Lawrence in the '70s show Family and later as Barbara Weston in Empty Nest, McNichol left it all behind when she dropped out of Hollywood to focus on her health.

Done with acting, McNichol spends her time focusing on tennis, yoga, travel and raising her beloved miniature dachshunds. "She is very happy and healthy," says Ballard. "And she enjoys living a very private life."


http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20559567,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines

http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2012/news/120116/kristy-mcnichol-4-440.jpg

I'm glad Kristy is well and happy today. I knew she'd left show business to battle depression, but not much else. I am sure she'll be able to help many kids.

But she said in back in 1978 in 16 Magazine that she had a crush on Donny Osmond...!

:eek:

All kidding aside, I think it's great she came out to help the cause.

I'm just wondering when Jodie Foster will do the same.

back in 1978 i had a crush on Kristy McNichol

good for her, as long as she's happy who cares what she does in her private life.

back in 1978 i had a crush on Kristy McNichol

good for her, as long as she's happy who cares what she does in her private life.

Same here on both counts.

But she said in back in 1978 in 16 Magazine that she had a crush on Donny Osmond...!

:eek:


Maybe she goes both ways. She was quite the cutie back in the day. Nice to know she is in good health and enjoying her life.

Maybe she goes both ways. She was quite the cutie back in the day. Nice to know she is in good health and enjoying her life.

I was being facetious. 16 Magazine was notorious for attributing quotes like that to young female teen idolettes.

Yes, and in the 80s the teen magazines of the day were always having those things about "win a dream date with Chad Allen" or "what Danny Pintauro wants in a girl" - years before either of them were outed. Proof positive that you have to look at those mags with a grain of salt.

When starring on the show Family and in the movie Little Darlings, Kristy was cute in a tomboyish sort of way. Rumors have been going around for about 30 years that she's gay, so the fact that she finally came out and confirmed it really isn't a surprise at all.

back in 1978 i had a crush on Kristy McNichol

.
Me too I even had her poster up in my room.

I bought her 45 single:

http://www.rare45records.com/476-1602-large/kristy-jimmy-mcnichol-hes-so-fine-hes-a-dancer.jpg

What was I thinking....? ;)

:lol: :lol: :lol:

That's awesome! Good for her! It's nice to see celebrities speaking out about bullying. I wish this topic had been recognized when I was in school because I got plenty of that in elementary school and junior high. And it's nice to see that she's come out about her relationship as well. Congrats to her on such a long relationship with her partner!

Well there goes my dream of one day being Kristy's husband.

When starring on the show Family and in the movie Little Darlings, Kristy was cute in a tomboyish sort of way. Rumors have been going around for about 30 years that she's gay, so the fact that she finally came out and confirmed it really isn't a surprise at all.

Not all tomboys are lesbians, bisexuals, or transgendered.

Not all tomboys are lesbians, bisexuals, or transgendered.


This is true. I worked with this attractive blonde and after getting to know her, I said "You were a tomboy, weren't you?"

She smiled and said "Yup."

You learn as you get older to try and not always make assumptions about people.