People Magazine reports that actress Kristy McNichol best known for her role of tomboy “Buddy” on the ABC drama Family has come out of the closet 20 years after leaving acting because she is isck and tired of seeing LGBT kids 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.”

Well it’s not surprising news. But it is was nice to see that she looks happy as she suffered from severe depression at times in the past.  Maybe that was reason.

I’m goign to give Kristy the benefit of the doubt of this and after all this time hope that its not something thats being done for other reasons.

Still waiting Anderson Cooper, Queen Latifah, Kevin Spacey, and others,

Come out, come out where ever you are!