One of America’s favorite TV moms, staring as Elyse Keaton on “Family Ties,” has revealed to the public that she is a lesbian. She revealed in a new interview, “I’m a lesbian mom.”

The mother of five told People.com that she began dating women seven years ago, but she hadn’t really considered herself as being gay. She explained saying, “It had never crossed my mind. I was never comfortable with myself, [but] that doesn’t mean I was questioning.”

She goes on to say, “I feel like I’m being honest for the first time.” The actress has been dating building contractor Nancy Locke for the past four years and the couple have lived together for two.

Her five children support her new-found identity. Her son Peter told People, “I just couldn’t stop smiling because she finally figured it out.”