LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The ‘Doogie Howser, MD’ star Neil Patrick Harris was one of the first men in Hollywood to openly come out as gay. However, his realization and acceptance of the fact that he prefers homosexual relationships over heterosexual love was not the outcome one day. Rather, decades-long of hobnobbing with several people in the industry and a few incidents later, he could cement his belief that he was gay. Now that the multiple Primetime Emmy Award-winning actor is all set to judge the reality competition ‘Drag Me to Dinner’ on Hulu where his husband David Burtka will be gracing one of the producers’ hats, let’s have a look at the Harris’ history of boyhood which is interesting as well as inspiring.
Harris, who has never been shy about his sexuality since coming out in 2006, shared in his memoir, ‘Choose Your Own Autobiography,’ that a kiss from Burt Reynolds made him finally accept the fact that he was gay. Before his ultimate epiphany, the ‘Gone Girl’ actor made himself believe that he was, in fact, bisexual.
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It was revealed that Harris’ stint beside Burt Reynolds in the 1980’s show ‘BL Stryker’ helped him internalize his own sexuality which he tried to decline for long, The Independent reports. A kiss from Burt Reynolds sealed the deal for Harris, who then realized his amorous inclination toward people of the same gender as him.
“After a long internal journey, you now embrace being gay, recognizing it as a wonderful and integrally important component part of the totality that is you,” wrote Harris in his memoir and revealed, “As a joke at the end of one take, Burt leans over and kisses you square on the mouth.”
The father-of-two continued, “The crew thinks this is very funny, but it makes you uncomfortable. Uncomfortable and, it will ultimately turn out, gay. Burt Reynolds' kiss makes you gay.”
After the Marriage Equality Act was passed in 2011 in New York, Harris and Burtka announced their engagement via Twitter after dating since 2004. The couple welcomed a pair of twins, Gideon and Harper, through a surrogate mother in 2010. They got married in Italy in September 2014.
‘I am a very content gay man’
In 2006, Harris became one of the first Hollywood actors to openly come out as gay. In an exclusive interview with People, he talked in detail about his “private life” and “sexuality.” The ‘How I Met Your Mother’ star shared candidly that the general consensus of the public towards him was kind towards him until recently, “The public eye has always been kind to me, and until recently I have been able to live a pretty normal life.” However, time changed, and people got more interested in his sexuality. “Now it seems there is speculation and interest in my private life and relationships,” said the actor who was catapulted to fame when he was just 16.
Instead of ignoring the false claims and “rumors” about him, the ‘Uncoupled’ actor rather preferred to bust the myths. He said, “So, rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions,” and added that is “quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love.”
'If I'm not going to feel the super sparks with her ...'
Harris’ path to acknowledge his sexuality was not an easy path. Rather, he took decades to come to terms with his own sexuality. In 1997-1998, he was in a heterosexual relationship with Actress Christine Taylor. In a 2008 appearance on 'The Howard Stern Show,' he shared with the host that the failed relationship with Taylor also helped him in understanding his sexuality. While Taylor was an “absolute catch,” Harris, quite naturally, did not feel any connection with her.
Harris shared, "She's the coolest, nicest chick ever. She's an absolute catch, and I thought, 'If I'm not going to feel the super sparks with her... it probably means I'm gay," as per Contact Music. The ‘Friends’ actress later went on to marry Ben Stiller in 2000.
