Kristy McNichol Has Finally Come Out of the Closet

I think a lot of people figured this out years ago, but it's finally official: Kristy McNichol is OUT AND PROUD!

Kristy (who's 49) also has a girlfriend, whom she's been living with for the past two decades.

Kristy's rep told The Examiner, "[She] is very sad about kids being bullied. She hopes that coming out can help kids who need support. She would like to help others who feel different."

Ironically, the "kids" Kristy wants to help probably have no idea who she is.

Kristy was a famous child star in the 1970s. She did a lot of guest appearances on TV shows and also starred on the drama series "Family". From 1988 to 1995, she appeared on the sitcom "Empty Nest".

Kristy pretty much dropped out of showbiz after that, because she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

And let's not forget...Kristy starred in the 1982 cinematic classic, "White Dog"...the moving story of a young girl and her dog...which has been trained to ATTACK AND KILL BLACK PEOPLE!

Here's the trailer: