publicly. I also will be back on television. I have
a couple of projects that are in different stages
of development. I still believe in the power of
television. I sort of grew up in the Oprah school
of TV – which for me is the best. I am excited to
return to television in a meaningful way.
JH: Is it similar to your old show with room
makeovers?
NB: I can’t really say right now.
JH: You’ve been a role model by being openly
gay. Do you support a specific cause?
NB: I would never label myself as a role model.
My sexuality is something that I’ve never
hidden. That in and of itself has hopefully
created some room for people to feel more
comfortable. I’ve written about the coming out
process. Mitchell Gold was editor for a book
called Crisis that asked several people how their
coming out process was and their thoughts
around that. I shared very openly what mine was
with my family. Right now the issue of bullying
is enormous, and it’s an enormous plague and
it’s important to let these kids know that things
do get better. I’ve been involved in the It Gets
Better campaign with Shelly Wright and some
other people. But I think that as people we
have to allow others around us to grieve when
we come out because it’s not the life that they
anticipated for us. They need a little breathing
room as well. That’s not to say I support any
animosity, but sometimes when we come out we
have this expectation that everyone is going to
jump on board and be okay with that. I believe
we need to give people space and the time that
they need to come to terms with it on their own.
(In The Things That Matter Nate shares his story
of how he came out to his family while he was
a freshmen in college. It’s an honest, heart-
felt account that we all can relate to, and that
exhibits a strength, wisdom and compassion for
what his parents had to process.)
And then the call came to an end.
I’d like to say that I knocked it out of the park.
But on the phone I lost my ability to speak, and
I probably gushed a bit too much. However,
I overcame my fear and spoke to one of my
design heroes that I never would have dreamed
I would be able to meet. Nate was friendly, open
and honest. In the end, I am happy that it was a
phone interview so he couldn’t see how much I
was sweating. §
This is Jonathan Hopp's first article for Just Out. As an interior designer, he
believes where we live, how we live and who we surround ourselves with directly
correlates to our happiness. That is why he moved to Portland with his partner.
His column “Design Matters” will cover architecture, interiors, people, design
and all the things that reflect where we live — in one of the most beautiful places
in the world.
November 2012
JustOut.com
57