Happy 38th Birthday to Neil Patrick Harris!

We loved him back when he was Doogie Howser M.D. but boy, who knew he would grow up to be such a force of nature?

Neil Patrick Harris, former child star, is now one of the brightest lights in showbiz. Whether he’s in character as Barney Stinson on the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother or brilliantly hosting the Tony or the Emmys (boy could the Oscars have used him this year!), Neil is the consummate professional.

His talent and timing are mind-boggling but what I appreciate the most is how he lives his life as a gay man so publicly and so comfortably. Just last week, he was on The Late Show With David Letterman showing off photos of his and partner David Burtka’s adorable twins and explaining how the surrogacy process worked for them.

Neil is comfortable in his own skin and it shows. It’s so important for the public at large to see happy and thriving gay people living life on their own terms.

Happy birthday to a great star!