Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyAugust 15th, 2010
Neil Patrick Harris is on TV. And, by that, I mean that almost literally every time I turn it on, there’s Neil. Singing the opening number on the Oscars, judging Top Chef, guest roll in Glee, in the audience for the finale of So You Think You Can Dance, Hosting the Tonys, and, of course, starring in his own sitcom How I Met Your Mother.
But somehow he charms us enough that his ubiquitous presence doesn’t annoy. Maybe it’s because 20 years ago we loved Doogie Howser. Or maybe it’s just that Harris is one of the few child stars that didn’t eventually end up driving drunk the wrong way down the freeway.
Whatever it is, Neil Patrick Harris is my generation’s feel-good gay. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s in a long-term relationship with a handsome young man with perfect hollywood-spouse credentials: a part-time actor who doesn’t steal the limelight.
Now E! Online is announcing that after six years together NPH and David Burtka are adding to their family.
Neil Patrick Harris is going to have his hands full come fall.
E! News has exclusively learned that the ubiquitous actor and his longtime partner, David Burtka, are going to become the parents of twins, via a beautiful surrogate, this October.
Since coming out publicly in 2006, NPH has been measured in his political advocacy. While he’s consistently on the side of equality, he’s not taken the most public role.
Now, I’m not one of those guys who thinks that Harris has some obligation to represent our community. His life is his life and it’s pressure enough being in the fishbowl without having to be “the gay role model.” But like it or not, for many people Harris may be the only gay guy they “know.”
And while it’s crazy that the world works this way, Harris and Burtka’s decision to have kids has undoubtedly given more than a few mid-West housewives the assurance they needed that gay people are just like them. Because look at that nice Doogie Howser, he’ll make a good dad.
Perhaps just living his life with dignity and decency is the best form of advocacy that we could ever hope for.
Latest Posts
Featured Reports
In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.
When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.
In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.
On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.
Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"
At last, the truth can now be told.
Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!
And don‘t miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.
Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.
Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.
Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.
The FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.
“Google” is a trademark of Google Inc.
© Box Turtle Bulletin. All Rights Reserved.
Posts 
Posts via daily email:
Lynn David
August 15th, 2010
Living well is the best revenge.
John in the Bay Area
August 15th, 2010
Timothy wrote: Perhaps just living his life with dignity and decency is the best form of advocacy that we could ever hope for.
I would agree, and would say that this doesn’t apply just to Hollywood celebs. Ultimately, he came out and is living his life openly. The most effective thing that we can all do to change the culture is come out.
Scott P.
August 15th, 2010
This was on Yahoo’s homepage yesterday and the comments section was filled with so much venom and hate that it nearly took my breath away.
Most of the comments were geared toward “The Bible says it’s a sin” and “Those poor children will grow up confused and gay” to really, really awful stuff, like “Those fags should be taken out and hung” and “What’ll be baby’s first lesson? Blow jobs 101?”
Because there was a picture of Neil and David at California Adventure some of the dim-wits were calling for a boycott of Disney!
It just doesn’t seem to be conceivable to these mental midgets (even the “I have gay friends but this is wrong” crowd) that gay people might have children who they love and care for, not as some perverted sex-toy.
All joy to Neil, David and their new arrivals!
Mark F.
August 15th, 2010
I think it is more appropriate to say that Harris and his partner have engaged a surrogate mother who will be having a baby (with the sperm of one man) and giving it to them to adopt. It seems weird to say the two men are “expecting” a baby, although its literally true, I suppose.
Mark F.
August 15th, 2010
“This was on Yahoo’s homepage yesterday and the comments section was filled with so much venom and hate that it nearly took my breath away.”
Gays are still the current day blacks, despite much progress.
Richard W. Fitch
August 15th, 2010
{{btw – NPH and David are gay role models, not “roll models”, that is unless they are replacing the Pillsbury DoughBoy in some upcoming ads. }}
Timothy Kincaid
August 15th, 2010
Thanks Richard. Fixed
werdna
August 15th, 2010
It’s “Doogie Howser” not “Houser”, and many of us love him in spite of that role, not because of it.
Timothy Kincaid
August 15th, 2010
Thanks Werdna. Fixed.
My spelling sucks today.
Emily K
August 15th, 2010
I have to take issue with describing “How I Met Your Mother” as “his very own sitcom.” I watch HIMYM in spite of the character Barney, not because of it. I think he does a good job with the role, but the lines and situations he is handed are clearly the writers’ fault and not his.
I consider it to be Josh Radnor’s, Jason Siegel’s, and Allyson Hannigan’s sitcom first. And in fact the couple, Lily and Marshal, are the main reason I sometimes sit down to watch the show.
Scott P.
August 15th, 2010
Emily K, where did you read Neil Patrick Harris said it was “his own” sit-com?
DaveM
August 15th, 2010
You forgot Neil’s best role to date, as the “Shoe Fairy” on Sesame Street.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDaszN9ByxM
Emily K
August 15th, 2010
there.
Emily K
August 15th, 2010
it wasn’t Neil saying it, it was Timothy.
Scott
August 15th, 2010
If you happen to read this Neil, CONGRATULATIONS!
You’re going to be the best dad ever. Sorry about the diapers and the late night feeding thing but it’s totally worth it.
I only hope the kids are going to be as great as you and your husband are. I’m guessing they will.
customartist
August 16th, 2010
I hope that they WILL appear for public photos at some point, for all straights to see.
George Bingham
August 16th, 2010
@DaveM
Thanks for that clip of Neil from S.S.! Loved it!
@NPH,
Was David also in that? Was that him in the tap shoes?
If it wasn’t, feel free to forward that guy my email address! ;-)
Bob
August 18th, 2010
Expecting twins? Oh yeah, which one of them is pregnant?
This is such a silly charade.
Leave A Comment