Emmy-winning actress Kristy McNicol comes out to help stop bullies
Emmy-winning actress Kristy McNicol, who starred in ABC’s 1970s show Family and theGolden Girls spin-off Empty Nest, decided to go public and reveal that she is gay Friday. The 49-year-old said that she finally decided to make it public in order to help bullied kids.
McNichol spoke to People, providing the site with a photo of her with her partner, Martie Allen, 49, who has been with her for the past two decades. Through publicist Jeff Ballard, McNichol said that another reason for going public was because she is “approaching 50” and she has decided to “be open about who I am."
Ballard goes on to say that McNichol is “very sad” that children continued to be bullied at school. "She hopes that coming out can help kids who need support. She would like to help others who feel different,” Ballard told People.
As AceShowBiz notes, McNichol has been largely out of the public eye for close to 20 years. She won two Emmys for her work in Family, one in 1977 and another in 1979 for her supporting role. She was also nominated in 1978 and 1980.
Ballard told People that McNichol “enjoys living a very private life” and that she spends time playing tennis, doing yoga, traveling and raising miniature dachshunds.
According to The Huffington Post, McNichol is just the latest in a long line of celebrities who have come out of the closet. Some have chosen to make videos for the It Gets Better Project, including Star Trek star Zachary Quinto, who announced that he is gay in October.
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