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"I discovered my own sexuality relatively late in life compared to many other people," the actor wrote in his new memoir.
Kal Penn, actor and comedian most known for his role in the Harold & Kumar franchise has opened up about his romantic life in his new memoir You Can't Be Serious.
In a new excerpt shared with People, the 44-year-old reveals that he's been in a relationship with a man named Josh for 11 years and that now, the couple is engaged.
"I discovered my own sexuality relatively late in life compared to many other people," he wrote. "There's no timeline on this stuff. People figure their s--- out at different times in their lives, so I'm glad I did when I did."
To protect Josh's privacy, Penn does not reveal his last name but says the two met in Washington D.C. when Penn was working for the Obama administration. The actor says he's been open about his love life with friends and family, but kept it from the public to protect everyone's privacy.
"I've always been very public with everybody I've personally interacted with. Whether it's somebody that I meet at a bar, if Josh and I are out or we're talking to friends," said Penn. "I'm really excited to share our relationship with readers. But Josh, my partner, my parents, and my brother, four people who I'm closest to in the family, are fairly quiet. They don't love attention and shy away from the limelight."
Telling his own story was important to him, and that includes his romantic life.
"Figuring out the narrative [in the book], of how to respect who they really are, with telling my story — that includes: my work life, both in Hollywood and DC, it includes my love life with Josh and how we met, it includes my parents, to the extent that I'm willing to share stories about their upbringing. So that was the most important thing for me. I wanted my story to be authentic from my perspective and told in a way that makes you feel like you really get to know me."
In the memoir, Penn opens up about his first date with Josh, who showed up at his apartment with an 18-pack of Coors Light and "instantly switched the TV to watch NASCAR."
"I thought, 'This obviously is not going to work out.' I have one day off from The White House and this dude is unironically watching cars go around and make left turns?" Penn added, "Next thing you know, it's been a couple months and we're watching NASCAR every Sunday. I'm like, 'What is happening?' I wanted the reader to enjoy the love and the humor through all of those stories."
With this memoir, Penn hopes fans can really get to know him and the people he loves.
"The whole point of writing this book was for the reader to feel like we're having a beer together. I thought, if we're supposed to feel like we're having a beer together, then I want to take you into my stories and I want you to experience them with the same joy that I've experienced them. That was the way that my friends have met my parents and Josh, as they've gotten to know them over the last 10 years."
Now, the happy couple just has to figure out how big the wedding will be.
"I want the big ass Indian wedding. Josh, hates attention, [has said], 'Or we could just do quick 20-minute thing with our families and that's it.' So we have to meet halfway in the middle."
Penn's new memoir You Can't Be Serious is available to purchase on November 2.
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
