Neil Patrick Harris and Lady GaGa have been the talk of Twitter this past week – Emmy winner Harris after the announcement that he is expecting twins (with longtime boyfriend David Burtka) and GaGa for surpassing Britney Spears as the most followed person on the social networking site.
And although @ladygaga is ahead of @actuallyNPH by about 5 million followers, Harris’ accomplishments are not to be overlooked – especially when it comes to the LGBT community.
His personal successes aside, NPH is one of few openly gay actors whose careers have soared since coming out publicly. Even Ramin Setoodeh acknowledged this achievement in his incendiary Newsweek article, leaving Harris unscathed in his assault on gay actors playing straight.
With two Emmys, two babies on the way, one boyfriend and a hit TV show, NPH is more than just a magician – and yes, @actuallyNPH is actually a magician, too. He has officially gone from the ‘Great Gay Hope,’ as New York Magazine dubbed him in 2009, to the ‘Big Gay Success,’ as I’ve decided to refer to him from now on.
I base my assessment not only on how many followers or trophies Harris has picked up on his journey through ‘Hollywoodland,’ but on his setting a new paradigm for members of the LGBT community who are trying to break through the rainbow-colored ceiling that hangs over all of us.
NPH has proven that being gay does not preclude you from living the American dream – and he managed to achieve this success without pissing too many people off.
In a media landscape dominated by female pop provocateurs and the latest flash of their collective vajayjays, it becomes difficult to see a star make it on merit alone.
This is not to say that stars like Lady GaGa are without merit – her commitment to advocacy has brought light to many issues affecting our community. However, in terms of setting an example for our youth and showing values voters that a vote for LBGT equality will not damage the fabric of society, she’s not up to snuff.
Lady Gaga is not changing anyone’s mind about LGBT issues – not in her actions, anyway.
She makes a living by working conservatives into a tizzy, as did Britney, Madonna and every other bottle blond before them. And people love her for it – especially celebrities.
But we already have celebrity support on issues of equality. What we now need is the support of politicians and voters. And although I believe that LGBT rights are human rights and should not be decided by mob rule or popular vote, I’m also painfully aware that there are many in this great country who don’t agree with me.
In the current political climate – where Prop 8 gets passed and ENDA hasn’t gone up for a vote – we can’t afford to lose values voters over music videos and media stunts.
Gay rights issues are ‘controversial’ enough.
Do we really need to add sexual exploits and acts of blasphemy to the list of actions we need to defend on a daily basis?
Do we really need to strive to be different?
No, we don’t.
We don’t need to strive to be different because LGBT people are already different, even amongst ourselves.
We do share a common goal, though: we want to be treated just like everybody else.
Now, does that mean that we have to do things differently to get things done?
If Neil Patrick Harris’ success proves anything (besides the fact that he’s a great actor), it’s that we don’t.
It proves that with faith ourselves, our common goal – and a lot of hard work – we can transcend people’s expectations instead of submitting to them.
We do more for ourselves by celebrating our similarities than we do by harping on our differences.
So, here’s to you, Neil Patrick Harris – to opening doors, opening minds and moving us forward.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
This sounds like you are advocating quiet assimilation and conformity. Seriously? A domestic partner, a loft, and 2 kids? That’s the paradigm we as a community should adopt? That’s what you would have all of us do?
While I agree, Doogie/NPH/BGS shits unicorns (*snaps*), his choice is only one of many options. It is the wide diversity of our community and allies that moves us forward. All actions, all lifestyles, all examples contribute as long as they maintain the discussion.
We may not agree with one group or another’s strategy; perhaps it’s too confrontative for our tastes or perhaps we don’t think it sends a strong enough message. Maybe we think it’s just wrong. I have seen this happen time and time again. We just saw it: Anti-Prop 8 factions vehemently disagreeing as to how to proceed effectively with the fight for marriage equality. The first trial is over and they still disagree. Who’s right? I don’t know, but the topic is being discussed and opinion is changing in our favor.
If Big Gay Success wants to live out the American Dream, that’s great. But let’s not hold up a 2nd-Class-Pseudo-American Dream as the best lifestyle just because it aligns with a hetero archetype. (It will remain a 2nd class alternative until we have marriage equality.) Assimilation is not, in and of itself, progress. We as a community cannot avoid demanding our rights because doing so is too “controversial”.
NPH would not have had the opportunity to come out and be successful if our LGBT forbears hadn’t taken controversial actions and paved the way for him, you, and me.
Sorry to screed on your wall.