Neil Patrick Harris talks Ricky Martin and Rupert Everett on "The View"

Neil Patrick Harris stopped by gabfest The View today and was his usual effortlessly charming self (and it's always sweet seeing how much affection there is with Neil and Whoopi, who co-starred in Clara's Heart over twenty years ago).

They chatted about Neil's song & dance duties on all the awards shows, showed a clip from tonight's How I Met Your Mother (which apparently is about "boobies"), and his narration of the PBS doc Through a Dog's Eyes.

Talk then turned to the recent coming out of Ricky Martin, which turned into a serious chat about the risks actors take in venturing out of the closet.

Sherri: After not commenting for a number of years, Ricky Martin recently came out and said he was gay.
Neil: Stop it! (laughter from the audience)
Sherri: You are very open ... you are an openly gay actor (cheers from the audience) ... was it harder in the past to come out and say that you're gay and get work, or is it easier now? What do you think about that?
Neil: Well it was certainly harder before because they were fewer examples of people who were able to do it and still stand tall. As time progresses and more people are examples for who they're sleeping with being so secondary to how they behave as a person, then the masses will be able to have that not be such a sticking point. And so, all the Ricky Martins who come out and are proud of who they are, in every way will be a great example for all.

Joy then mentioned that Rupert Everett feels that his career was hurt because he was out, and blames it for his not getting roles, prompting Neil to gently rebuke the British actor:

With all due respect to Rupert, you can blame a lack of advancement in your career on all kinds of things, for a myriad of reasons, so I don't think he can specifically pinpoint one reason why something might be stalling for him. But I was proud to know that he was who he was.

I love that Neil is so confident and self-aware. He continues to be one of those "great examples" he spoke of.