Meredith Baxter Photographed with Girlfriend **Update: Baxter Out Lesbian**

Update: Meredith Baxter comes out this morning as a lesbian to People Magazine and on the Today Show.

Elyse Keaton is gay! Meredith Baxter, of Family Ties and of course several classic made-for-TV movies fame, was photographed with a woman who appears to be her girlfriend. Posted today on Perez Hilton, the pics show Baxter and someone who, let's admit, could be her sister or other relative,  shopping, eating donuts and reading the paper. However, in one of the shots, she's hugging the woman from behind — which leads me to believe she could indeed be a GF.

Oh yeah, and yesterday it was reported that she was recently spotted on lesbian loveboat, the "Sweet Carribean Cruise." You be the judge. Love you, Meredith!

**Update, Dec 12th 10:12 AM** Baxter outs herself to People Magazine:

Before Baxter, 62, first started dating women seven years ago, the thought of being gay "had never crossed my mind," she tells PEOPLE. Having been in three failed marriages to men (most famously to actor David Birney), she says of her many difficult years before coming out, "I was never comfortable with myself." But she's quick to add, "That doesn't mean I was questioning."

Now in a four-year relationship with building contractor Nancy Locke – the couple have lived together for two years – the actress, who continues to act and run a skincare company, says, "I feel like I'm being honest for the first time."

Baxter with partner and family. photo. People

On the Today Show Baxter comes out to Matt Lauer: