Neil Patrick Harris Headlines Tel-Aviv Pride but Tells Israelis He’s No Gay Icon

Neil Patrick Harris, this year’s official international ambassador for Tel-Aviv Pride, following Andy Cohen who did it last year, told the Israeli press that he’s no gay icon upon landing at David Ben-Gurion International Airport.

According to the Times of Israel, Harris says he has no interest in being a gay activist.

Harris arrived in Israel today along with his husband, the chef and actor David Burtka, to headline Tel Aviv’s annual celebration of its famous gay-friendly scene.

But Harris, who has two children via surrogacy and is involved in various gay-affiliated advocacy groups, says he hardly considers himself an icon of the community.

He describes himself as “just a guy who is married to another guy” and says he has no interested in being “an ambassador for anything except my kids.”

Times of Israel

In a statement to the press, the Tel Aviv Municipality said that “hundreds of thousands of people from Israel and around the world will descend on Tel Aviv for a nonstop week of parties, events, and shows that feature and celebrate the city’s vibrant LGBTQ community, culminating in a massive parade through the city streets.”

“Tel Aviv’s Pride parade is the largest Pride event in Asia and the Middle East, and one of the largest parades in the world,” the municipality added.

The American actor, writer, producer, magician, and singer will attend the Pride International press conference next week as events kick off for the parade, set to take place on Friday, June 14, across the city.

Jerusalem Post

The event will open with a party on Ben-Zion Boulevard, which will include “drag shows, speeches and uplifting music.” The parade will later feature floats and a beach party, at which Eurovision 2018 winner Netta Barzilai will perform.

This year’s Pride parade in Tel Aviv is, appropriately enough, set to be “legen – wait for it – dary.”