▁one ▁of ▁the ▁show ' s ▁stars , ▁actor ▁Neil ▁Patrick ▁Harris . ▁Spe cul ation ▁around ▁this ▁story ▁eventually ▁led ▁Harris ▁to ▁acknow ledge ▁public ly ▁that ▁he ▁himself ▁was ▁gay ▁in ▁a ▁cover ▁story ▁in ▁People ▁Week ly ▁Magazine . ▁B urt ka ▁made ▁no ▁public ▁response ▁to ▁the ▁story , ▁though ▁later ▁Harris ▁stated ▁that ▁he ▁and ▁B urt ka ▁were ▁moving ▁in ▁together . ▁ ▁B urt ka ▁and ▁Harris ▁attended ▁the ▁Em my ▁Awards ▁in ▁September ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁as ▁an ▁open ly ▁acknowled ged ▁couple ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time , ▁an ▁appearance ▁which ▁Harris ▁discussed ▁on ▁The ▁Ellen ▁De Gener es ▁Show . ▁ ▁B urt ka ' s ▁mother ▁died ▁of ▁cancer ▁in ▁May ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁ ▁On ▁February ▁ 4 , ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁B urt ka ▁and ▁Harris ▁appeared ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁on ▁stage ▁together , ▁singing ▁a ▁du et ▁from ▁R ent ▁at ▁a ▁benefit ▁for ▁The ▁L GB T ▁Community ▁Center ▁in ▁New ▁York . ▁The ▁two ▁actors ▁had ▁been ▁together ▁since ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 4 . ▁Harris ▁custom arily ▁referred ▁to ▁B urt ka ▁as ▁" my ▁better ▁half " ▁and ▁" an ▁amaz ing ▁chef ." ▁B urt ka ▁and ▁Harris ▁became ▁parents ▁to ▁frat ernal ▁tw ins ▁G ide on ▁Scott ▁and ▁Har per ▁Grace , ▁both ▁of ▁whom ▁were ▁born ▁in ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁via ▁a ▁sur rog ate ▁mother . ▁B