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Who is Cassandra Peterson's girlfriend? Actress has been dating friend for 19 years

Cassandra Peterson has revealed publicly that she has been in a relationship with a woman for 19 years

Cassandra Peterson has revealed publicly that she has been in a relationship with a woman for 19 years. The actress, globally known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, has opened up about her relationship with her partner Teresa "T" Wierson, a trainer, an assistant, a friend, who went on to become her longtime partner. She came out in public revealing her relationship in her newly released memoir -- 'Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memories of the Mistress of the Dark'.

Peterson wrote in her memoir that after her divorce, when she felt that "emotionally and sexually" she was "closed for business", Wierson came to live with her. The 70-year-old gothic goddess said Wierson, who had separated from her partner, had "no place to go" when she turned up on her doorstep. Wierson was a "huge relief" and Peterson "began to feel happier" around her than she had felt in several years.

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Speaking to The Orange County Resgister, Peterson said, "Keeping a secret doesn’t feel good." “I’m glad to have it out there,” she continued. “I mean, it does worry me. I have moments where I go, ‘Maybe people won’t like me anymore’ and ‘Maybe I won’t get work anymore.’ It’s ridiculous to think that, but I have friends who are gay and have come out of the closet and it affected their work, relationships and their life. So it’s not so far-fetched to be worried. But on the other side of that, it’s so draining keeping it a secret. It’s not good for you, it’s not good for us. It sucks the energy out of you.”

Explaining that her sexuality is fluid and that she is still attracted to men as well, Peterson said, “I just met this particular person, and I fell in love." Besides opening up about her love life, Peterson describes in her book how she overcame various challenges that came her way after an accident caused burn scars on over 30 percent of her body when she was a child. The scars became a reason for her facing rejections in Hollywood. She also talks about being verbally, physically and sexually abused for years. 

“I’d say the one characteristic I have that has served me the best is perseverance,” she said. “I just don’t give up, I keep going. I got knocked down so many times and just got back up to do it again. I think that’s important in not only making a career in Hollywood, but in any career, you’d want to do. I’m always telling young actors to not get discouraged. I was 30 before I made enough money to pay my rent.”

After years of facing challenges and overcoming hurdles, Peterson says she is with someone who makes her feel “safe, blessed, and truly loved.”