Why Neil Patrick Harris is So Important to the Gay Community

By John Mitchell Posted Aug 16th 2010 03:25PM

Over the weekend, Neil Patrick Harris and his partner of six years, actor David Burtka, announced that they will welcome twins into their family this fall. "So, get this: David and I are expecting twins this fall. We're super excited/nervous/thrilled. Hoping the press can respect our privacy..." Harris tweeted shortly after E! Online broke the news.

When the twins arrive, Harris and Burtka will become the highest-profile gay parents in the country. For the gay community, this is a very good thing. Harris has defied the odds since coming out of the closet; his career has never been better, and by all accounts he is arguably among the more universally-beloved actors working today. People love NPH. He and Burtka exude a normalcy uncommon in media representations of gay men, and with their committed relationship and career successes, they continue to tear down the stereotypes that haunt the gay community and keep GLBT persons from enjoying the same rights and freedoms as their straight allies.

"For over two decades, Americans have followed Neil Patrick Harris' journey from child star to popular leading man. Now, many will look on as he and his partner build a family together," Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance of Defamation (GLAAD) tells PopEater. "As more and more loving and committed gay and lesbian couples start families together, it is important to see stories like Neil's that reflect what most fair-minded Americans already know: gay people and our families are no different than them. For many, Neil is the first gay person they've seen come out, fall in love and become a dad, and his story is helping Americans understand that gay people deserve the same opportunity to take care of our families and loved ones."

Harris has said often that he strives to be an example of normalcy; that while he may not be out marching in gay pride parades or participating in political rallies, he hopes that by living his life openly he can be an advocate by example. "I love Neil Patrick Harris and think the confidence with which he conducts himself has challenged prejudices and helped pave the way for other gay entertainers, including Jesse Tyler Fergusson and Cheyenne Jackson," says Aaron Hicklin, editor-in-chief of OUT magazine.

He is aware of his celebrity and its impact, and rather than make his sexuality central to his public persona, Harris has keenly made it just another part of who he is. He isn't "Neil Patrick Harris: Gay Actor," he's "Neil Patrick Harris: An actor who happens to be gay among many other things."

There is a vast difference between the two, and in so doing, Harris has made being gay palatable to people who might otherwise see it as something so foreign it should be feared. "I found a guy that I'm head over heels for and we have similar interests and we spend our time together," the actor told OUT magazine in 2008. "I'm a big proponent of monogamous relationships regardless of sexuality, and I'm proud of how the nation is steering toward that. Then you can look around and say, 'I really deeply feel like I'm in love with this person, there are people who feel the same thing, and those models are normal.'"

Finding someone to love, a soul mate to spend the rest of your life with, and wanting to start a family with that person is something everyone can relate to.

According to the Pew Research Center, simply knowing a gay person makes an individual more than twice as likely to support gay rights causes. After decades in the spotlight, we all know and love NPH. Now, as he embarks on this latest journey in his private life, we're about to be introduced to yet another side of him. And at this time, with battles over gay marriage and Don't Ask, Don't Tell raging, GLBT advocates couldn't ask for a better person to come forward as the face of the modern American gay family.

Because if NPH the father is even half as awesome as NPH the person, those will be two of the luckiest children in the world.

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Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris, left, and David Burtka pose at Paradise Pier in Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010.

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

Neil Patrick Harris Snapshots

In this photo provided by Disneyland, Neil Patrick Harris, left, and David Burtka pose at Paradise Pier in Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Disneyland, Paul Hiffmeyer)

Neil Patrick Harris Snapshots

ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 14: In this handout image provided by Disney, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka pose at Paradise Pier in Disney California Adventure on August 14, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Paul Hiffmeyer/Disney via Getty Images)

Neil Patrick Harris Snapshots

ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 14: In this handout image provided by Disney, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka pose with Mickey Mouse at Paradise Pier, site of the hit nighttime spectacular, �World of Color,� in Disney California Adventure on August 14, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Paul Hiffmeyer/Disney via Getty Images)

Neil Patrick Harris Snapshots

In this photo provided by Disneyland, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka pose at Paradise Pier in Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Disneyland, Paul Hiffmeyer)

Neil Patrick Harris Snapshots

In this photo provided by Disneyland, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka pose with Mickey Mouse at Paradise Pier, site of the hit nighttime spectacular, 'World of Color,' in Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Disneyland, Paul Hiffmeyer)

Neil Patrick Harris Snapshots

FILE - In this May 19, 2010 file photo, actor Neil Patrick Harris attends the CBS Upfront presentation in New York. Harris was nominated for an Emmy for best supporting actor Thursday, July 8, 2010 for his role in "How I Met Your Mother." The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards will be held on Sunday, Aug. 29, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, file)

Neil Patrick Harris Snapshots

FILE - In this June 7, 2009 file photo, actor Neil Patrick Harris hosts the 63rd Annual Tony Awards in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, file)

Neil Patrick Harris Snapshots

Neil Patrick Harris visits "Good Day New York" at FOX Studios on June 9, 2010 in New York City. Rita Cosby And Neil Patrick Harris Visit "Good Day New York" FOX Studios New York, NY United States June 9, 2010 Photo by Soul Brother/FilmMagic.com To license this image (60688802), contact FilmMagic.com

Neil Patrick Harris Snapshots

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Comments

(58)

Monday 16 August

By dvdfrnzwbr

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

The Government will allow anything to go on as long as they can get a future tax payer out of it.

By babymomma

Vote down Vote up Report this

really? I suppose you are willing to give up your social security benefits in pious protest right?

By usmcqtco

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Huh?

By Donna

whatever

By Sandy

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

PEOPLE!
Apparently your upbringing did not include the Golden Rule,...if you don't have anything good to say - don't say anything!
Soooooo many Stupid, yes, STUPID remarks re: a couple of people you do not know, most likely will never meet, who are obviously in a long term relastionship, able to bring a child (or two) into this screwed up mess of a world and hopefully will raise said kids to be good people. Can't say the same with regard to those just popping out kids willy nilly, no can we?
Soooo, if you can not say anything nice, keep it to yourself.....for goodness sake!
I know, I know,....a waste of breath from me to you name calling idiots, but it's my 2 cents on the subject!
Bored now!
Moving on!
Oh and CONGRATS to the expectant couple! :)

By OMG

and who's preaching it BUT not foloowing the 'Golden Rule'? Geez... why don't you practice what YOU preach...

By curious

prytye - why should straight people have more of a right to reproduce than gay people? Do you ask same sex couples who are expecting a baby why they didn't adopt?

Tuesday 17 August

By Sarah

curious - straight people CAN reproduce together. That should anwser both of your questions.

By Ronnie

I don't think homosexual couples can reproduce...that's impossible...only one of then is reproducing....it takes a heterosexual couple to reproduce...

By cutie6foot

I wish they were my dads! How wonderful for them to be bringing new life into this world, those kids will grow up in the most loving environment! Congrats!

By m.p. meehan

Those kids will be sexually-confused. Gay parenting is not the same same as male/female parenting.

Tuesday 23 November

By Stormwalker03

@m.p.meehan - yer right!! Statistically speaking, the Twins are going to grow up in one of the most loving and secure families! You can't say the same thing about str8 relationships!!!

I disagree though, they won't be sexually confuzed. Their Fathers have been through the ringer and have had to blaze their own trails, find their own ways. They will want one thing, for the Twins to find their own way. And be both supported, and loved, in whatever they want to do with their lives or who they wish to Love.

Cutie, you be one twin, and I'll be the other!!! I can only imagine how growing up with Neil and Dave as Fathers!!

Namasta!

By Dennis

Prop 8 was our last chance to sanctify marriage in California. At least they should have the decency to call it gay marriage and traditional marriage to differentiate the two.

Thursday 26 August

By Christopher

No one is trying to force your church to have marriage ceremonies for same sex couples. Civil rights means that everyone has the same rights, not just those who subscribe to your beliefs. Why should you even care?

A same-sex marriage has absolutely NO IMPACT on anyone else's marriage.

By amazon1967

Ok so you want to call it Gay Marriage instead of just marriage? That is the silliest thing I've heard all day and grante it's still early but cmon. So if my gay friend marries his bf, hes gonna have to say "Hey I got gay married last week"? How bout we just get rid of the labels and perhaps people can just be people.

By ezzzymoney

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well; at least one of them is expecting; wonder which one

I say good for them. If two mature consenting adults want the joy and headaches of raising twins then God bless em!!! As for the ignorant bible thumping hypocrites let me just say "calm yourselves" If you want the sanctity of marriage to harken back to the biblical days when marriage was a contract transferring ownership of a woman from her family to her new husband then hey go for it and shut up about others living their lives in a modern age when women and men are considered equal. If the gays want to marry I say sweet jesus would be glad.

By RB

Babymomma:

If you really read the Bible then you would have posted " I think sweet Jesus would be mad"....

Bible "thumpers" are only repeating what they read in the Bible. You got a problem with that then take it up with GOD.

By gobluespartyon

RB you don't get it and it's you that got the problem.

Thursday 19 August

By The Tip

PEOPLE!
Apparently your upbringing did not include the Golden Rule,...if you don't have anything good to say - don't say anything

Hello, Sandy,
You must be young and socially ignorant.

The Golden Rule is:

Do unto others as you would have them to do unto you.

Doctor told me not to hold it.

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