Watch: Neil Patrick Harris Tells Ellen About Going To The Emmys Since Coming Out

"How I Met Your Mother" star Neil Patrick Harris went on Ellen Degeneres' talk show today. The Emmy nominee (still known to many for his teen role as Doogie Howser, MD) spoke openly about his boyfriend. He told People magazine in an interview last November that he is gay. When Ellen asked him if he had a date for the award show, which is this Sunday, he could answer honestly and describe what they'd done in years past to avoid the press.

From NBC

Comments

[ParacleteofKavorka]

I still love Ellen, on her old sitcom, accidentally acknowledging she was gay into the microphone of an airport PA system. One of the funniest moments on TV.

[Mister Ruben]

I wish I were gay... can I please be gay?

[kiafaret]

Sorry Mister...it isn't a choice. You're stuck being straight...accept it.

[AngryAmish]

Mr. Ruben: You wanna be gay? We gays have a saying about you straight boys: You’re all just a six pack away. So, stroll down to your corner 7-11, pick up a six of Bud Light, and get back to me when you’ve polished off the last bottle.

Seriously, though: If you want to experience what it’s like to be gay, just start telling folks that you are gay, much as Gregory Peck “becomes” Jewish in “Gentleman’s Agreement” by simply telling people that he is. Start off by telling your parents, then move on to your coworkers. Of your coworkers, put your boss first on the list. You should adopt some visual cues as well. Put a Rainbow Flag sticker on your car. Buy some gay-themed t-shirts (a pink triangle or a simple “I’m Gay!” will do nicely) and wear them in your leisure time—at the grocery store, the gym, in bars, especially straight bars: the drunken former frat boys will love it! Have someone snap a photo of you with your arms around your best male buddy. Place that photo in an attractive frame & display it prominently on your desk at work. When you notice a coworker eying the photo, volunteer, “That’s my partner, Jeff!”

Do all of this for a month and report back your experience on this blog. In that report, be sure to tell us whether you still want to be gay.

[Mort]

Doogie's gay? What a surprise!!!!!

[NewRiver]

Yea, how about it? Besides, the best thing about that show was Wanda...she was a cutie.

[StanFlouride]

I don't give a damn either about peoples' sexuality but as a fan of NPH for many years I am happy for him that he no longer needs to keep his life a secret.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

Unfortunately, there is a large contingent of the American public that are fascinated and obsessed with what goes on in someone else's bedroom. They're called republicons and christianistas.

The good news is: their kids don't really give a hoot. We just need to wait until they croak and then, as you say, who cares?

[max365]

Exactly my feelings. Gay or straight, I am not interested in anybody's sexuality. Yawn! boring as hell.

[GrumpyMorningBoy]

I'm truly glad to hear that this is boring for you, but the truth is, simply being gay is enough to get you attacked (as witnessed this weekend on Long Island to a group of women including a former "Top Chef" contestant), and in most states, it's still legal to fire someone simply because they're gay.

You're perfectly entitled to be bored by this, but until straight people become UN-bored and come to the aid of GLBT Americans to give us the majority in crucial votes, we gay people will continue to be denied our pursuit of happiness.

- GMB

[dividebyzero]

This is true also. You haven't been truly alive until you've canvassed for a gay marriage amendment in suburbia!

[NewRiver]

"to give us the majority" and "we gay people will continue to be denied our pursuit of happiness."

- GMB
__________­__________­__________­__________

Why should you be entitled to anything, when nobody else is? If you let anyone or anything get in your way of your pursuit of happiness, then that is YOUR problem, not the governments nor anybody else's. Quit relying on others to solve your problems, and quit allowing others to determine your happiness.

[Hephaestion]

I love it when straights say "Who cares if he is gay?" They usually say that right before voting for some rightwing Republican who makes sure we gays remain third class citizens in our country... kept from serving in the military, able to be fired just for being gay in 2/3 of America, unable to get legal recognition of our marriages, and unable to hold hands with our spouses on the streets without being attacked.
Oh, yeah: "Who CARES?"

[wadenelson1]

Why is the fact that someone is gay even NEWS anymore.

Who cares?

[dividebyzero]

Amen. Women can vote? No way! Enough. People are gay and abortions are safe. Now on to the news.

[djg55555]

"They landed a man on the moon?!! Cool!!

(Lloyd Christmas)

[rwe]

abortions have at best less than a 50% mortality rate

[GrumpyMorningBoy]

NPH has been dating David Burtka (a well-known Broadway actor) for years now, which became an open secret in the New York City gay community long before NPH had come out, but it's nice to see him bring David into the light, so to speak, even if it's the bright glare of red carpet flash bulbs.

Is it my imagination, or did Ellen finally get the freedom to discuss gay things when her new season began? I'd heard rumors that her previous contract forbade her from discussing her sexuality... true?

- GMB

[LLT]

I've heard those rumors about Ellen's contract as well. Rosie O'Donnell actually mentioned that very thing on her video blog some time back, implying that she'd heard the rumor as well and assumed it was true but she didn't know it for a fact.

[Kurt]

Cool.... more gay people in positions of leadership need stand up and be counted. Thanks Neil Patrick.... As a friend once told me when I came out to my fraternity, "you have helped more people than you will know." And it's the same for you.

Because until society accepts that the immaterial in immaterial to their lives, all people who are " different " than one powerful clic or another are at risk of being hounded into conforming or worse.

[Iraqnophobia]

position of leadership? wow, you gays really shoot for the stars in your leaders.

[RedWhiteandBrooklyn]

Well, hi IS smarter and more respected that Pres'nit Chimpy McFlightsuit... and you probably think that HE'S a leader.