Design star Nate Berkus on how he explained to his father that being gay is not a choice

I’m really looking forward to seeing the two-part interview Nate Berkus has done with his old boss, Oprah Winfrey.

Part one airs this Sunday on OWN and part two a week later.

The candid conversation includes how Nate came out to his father.

Says Berkus: ‘I asked my father: ‘Do you trust me? Do you respect me? Do you think I’m smart?’ He said, ‘Yes.”

He then went on to explain to his parent how his being gay is not a choice.

‘I said, ‘Why would I choose to make my life more difficult – why would anyone choose to make their life more difficult? Do you think I would choose to have this hair? Do you think that I would choose to be 5’9′? I would have been 6’1’. It’s the exact same thing. The truth of the matter is being gay is the way I was born. I believe this to the core of my being.”

Berkus, who had his own syndicated daytime TV show for two years, made clear to his father how important it was that they be on the same page regarding his sexuality.

“I said, ‘Dad, we are never going to have a real relationship if you don’t believe me.’ He said, ‘If you say you are born this way, and you didn’t have a choice, then we are good.’ That was really the moment. Then, I knew if I had this base level of respect that I could move forward.’