Neil Patrick Harris was honored for his Trevor Project work
The Trevor Project’s annual Cracked Xmas event is always a blend of laughter and tears and this year’s event, held this past weekend at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, was no exception. The free 24-hour suicide help line for LGBTQ teens that The Trevor Project operates has been saving lives for years now and with funding from corporate sponsors like Audi, the organization will continue being there for teens in need for years to come. At this year’s winter event, Cracked Xmas 12, out actor Neil Patrick Harris and AT&T were both honored for their outstanding work with the Trevor Project and the gay community.
Trevor Executive Director Charles Robbins with the GLEE cast
The event was as star-studded as ever with music performances by the Los Angeles Gay Men’s Chorus, Vanessa Carlton and Marc Shaiman. Comedy performances stand-up by out comic Carol Leifer as well as a reenactment of the MTV teen soap The Hills with Missi Pyle, Chris Kattan and Rachael Harris playing parts of Spencer, Heidi and others. Also in attendance for the night were The Rachel Zoe Project’s Brad Goreski, Glee’s Jenna Ushkowitz, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale and Cory Monteith, Khloe and Kim Kardashian and Kelly Osbourne. The event also included an auction held by Caroline Rhea where lavish trips and walk-ons on such series as How I Met Your Mother and Modern Family enticed attendees to open their wallets for a good cause.
On the red carpet before the event, I asked Harris if he would have utilized an organization like the Trevor Project when he was a teen questioning his sexuality. Accompanied to the event by longtime partner David Burtka, Harris offered, “I was very fortunate because when I was a teen, my social world was broader and I had many more examples of people I could look to and relate to. Just living in Los Angeles and being on a TV show set helped with that.”
Outreach is an important thing for organization. How do you spread awareness to LGBTQ teens in remote areas where help is not readily available? Looking around at the goings on around him, Harris replied, “events like this. They provide a story in the news that provides a link to a website or a call number that allows someone who doesn’t know or needs something to grab onto anonymously to be able to accomplish.
Modern Family’s gay Dad, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, hadn’t worked with the Trevor Project before but, while trying to keep his teeth from chattering on the press line, the actor said, “I’m thrilled at the opportunity to do so. I’ve always wanted to get involved. Obviously it’s an amazing organization and I think the opportunity to shine a light and bring attention to it is an honor.”
With the ABC sitcom easily one of the breakout hits of the current television season, how is he and his cast mates (including Eric Stonestreet, who was also in attendance) adjusting to the fame that comes along with a hit show? “We’re all very, very grateful to have the show so that part is great. We get so excited to go into work everyday. We’ve been on a month-long hiatus and we just hung out for an hour in the parking lot; just so excited to be there.”
Robbins with Khloe and Kim Kardashian and Kelly Osbourne
Ferguson also told me that he had never had any qualms about being an out actor. “It was something I never thought twice about. I’ve lived my life very openly and more people know now but I never felt like I came out so that’s been interesting.” That said, he doesn’t take the fact that he’s out and proud for granted. “I think there is a lot of power to be had in being a positive role model so I’m learning. It’s exciting and I’m hoping these roles on television will give people a lot of hope for people who are isolated and alone. They can turn on ABC at 9 o’clock and see this loving gay couple who are living a very normal life and are a part of their family.”
On hand to lend support to his How I Met Your Mother cast mate, actor Jason Segel admitted in regards to the Trevor project, “I hadn’t heard about it until Neil told me about it. There couldn’t be a more important and vital sort of system so to be involved in that is great and also to be here to support Neil and give him the recognition he deserves is an honor.”
Actor Yuval David at the Cracked Xmas event
Actor Yuval David, who appears on Days Of Our Lives and the upcoming Nephilim sci-fi motion picture trilogy, said he grew up in a time when he was very aware of the disadvantages that come with gays lacking equality in our world. By being raised in a home where his mother, Ziva Cohen, was a renowned dancer and choreographer, he said, “family friends were not equal citizens and didn’t have the same rights as my parents did and my mom spoke very openly to my and my brother about that.” David even ended up taking in a friend who had a tough time coming out as a lesbian. “She was ostracized by her entire family and I became her big little brother and that was a traumatic experience for me as realizing that I’m supporting this person has been shunned by her family. That’s why an organization like Trevor is so important to have and it does such incredible work for people who need it.”
Survivor’s Jeff Probst, dimples ablaze, introduced a tribute to the body of work Harris has built from his roles in the Whoopi Goldberg film Clara’s Heart and as young doctor Doogie Howser, M.D. to his adult roles spoofing himself in the Harold and Kumar movies, hosting the Tony and Emmy Award broadcasts and, of course, as womanizing Barney on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother.
Harris admitted nervousness for receiving the award but said it “brings me kind of full circle in a weird and wonderful way.” He talked about how the loss of Trevor co-founder Randy Stone in 2007 effected him since they had been friends for years and also stressed the importance of the tough work that the hotline volunteers endure by putting in time manning the sometimes-busy phone lines. But, not wanting to make his speech too somber, he added that he is honored to be associated with the Trevor Project and “I get to work in an industry that is chock full of gays!”
For more on The Trevor Project, go to www.TheTrevorProject.org and the Trevor helpline, as always, is 866- 4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386).
Jim Halterman is a freelance writer who spends his days interviewing the top tier of talent and creative forces in the entertainment world and then, because he's that kind of guy, he brings it all to YOU! And, because we all like free stuff, check back on Fridays for the best giveaways!! (Photo: With SMASH star Megan Hilty at TCA Winter Press Tour, Pasadena, CA, January, 2012)
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Love it. Trevor Project is one great organization!
Dimples ablaze? Nice description! I can see clearly now……
Thanks, MMG!!!! You rock!