An Open Letter to AMERICA’S Neil Patrick Harris

Posted by Matt Algren · June 23rd, 2008

Dear TV’s AMERICA’S Neil Patrick Harris,

First of all, I love your work, though I realize as I type this that I’ve never seen How I Met Your Mother. One of the downfalls of not having cable/satellite, you know. I’m putting it on the top of my Netflix queue, I swear!

A very content gay man living his life to the fullest.

click image to enlarge

Anyway, I saw this awesome ad for Old Spice deodorant (left) in last week’s Entertainment Weekly, and realized that you’re a model of what an out gay man should be, especially at such a crucial time in our nation’s history.

Hotness aside (and that’s a big aside, my good man), you’re showing your generation and the next that being gay doesn’t mean that you can’t be happy. Closeted guys will and do find in you a hope that telling people who they really are doesn’t have to lead to the end of the world, that they don’t have to be relegated to the role of a stereotype. Out guys can see in you someone they can proudly claim as well. Newbies like me (eight months out!) can look to your example as one to follow as we navigate this strange new world of living in our own skin.

Just as importantly, your increasingly high profile in mainstream Hollywood gives The Straights (weirdos) someone to balance their image of The Gays. It’s nice to have a stable force when we keep getting news of Senators and other public figures getting caught in restroom stalls.

About a year and a half ago, Tom and Lorenzo from Project Rungay gave you some advice. Thanks for taking it, even if you never saw it.

Boys? A little advice. Please do NOT become activists. That’s not your job. Your job is to entertain us and thankfully, you seem to understand this for the most part. You want to help out the gays? Win an Emmy. Get yourself on the cover of TV Guide or People (for something other than your sexuality). Walk on the red carpet with your boyfriend. Be really good at what you do, avoid scandals or embarrassments, do your best to live a happy, out life and you will have accomplished more for the gay community than any speechmaking or marching you could do. Just be happy, fulfilled and successful (however you define those terms) and future actor fags and singer fags and entertainer fags will never even think of trying to lie about who they are and attempt to fool the public. Just be fabulous.

Good luck to you boys and once again, thank you.

Finally, um, if you, like, ever split up with David (GOD FORBID!!!), I’m, you know, available. I don’t have David’s perfect skin, or David’s boyish face with those dimples, or David’s gym-toned body (Wow, I’m terrible at this), or that Adam’s Apple you just want to give a good lick (Why am I still typing?!?), and I can’t cook worth a darn, but I have no problem being next in line.

No. Problem.

At all.

Yours in awkward but totally non-stalker admiration,
Matt

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    • 5 Comments          

    1. Comment #1 by Neil on June 24th, 2008 at 2:06 pm

      M,

      First of all, what a nice thing to read. Thanks. You the man.

      Second of all, it’s not TV’s Neil Patrick Harris. It’s America’s Neil Patrick Harris. Just to avoid confusion.

      Word.

      Stand tall,
      n

    2. Comment #2 by Matt Algren on June 24th, 2008 at 3:08 pm

      It’s foolish, I know, but I’m choosing to believe that this really did come from NPH.

      Because I’m just that lonely.

    3. Comment #3 by keltic on July 1st, 2008 at 12:54 pm

      You know, we really do need people to just be themselves and do a fabulous job while doing it. Let the good-looking gays be our poster boys, and trolls like me can do all the writing and marching and activism. Eventually, we’ll all have equal rights, and there will be no need to hide behind our computer monitors.

    4. Comment #4 by Stella on July 2nd, 2008 at 11:45 am

      I’m a pretty studied fan of NPH, and that comment seems like it might really be from him. If it’s not, whoever wrote it has done their research …

      What a great post, btw.

    5. Comment #5 by Matt Algren on July 5th, 2008 at 3:23 pm

      Okay, so after further investigation, there are certain elements unseen here that would indicate that the comment maker who claimed to be the good Mr. Harris may actually have been the good Mr. Harris. Probably, even.

      At which point I point out that while I’ve never been one for autographs or fannish stuff, his taking the time to comment is pretty neat.

      And, uh, Neil, that last bit about David was a joke and stuff. I’m sure you knew that, but just in case. Totally a joke. But I really did start watching your show.

      Standing tall,
      Matt


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