Apr 03, 2009   | COMMENTS     

Mitchell Gold knew he was gay when he realized at age 11 that he was “totally infatuated” with Richard Chamberlain on the hit TV series “Dr. Kildare,” a ’60s NBC medical drama. “I knew I was supposed to be infatuated with the nurse and that something was wrong with me.” Gold later saw Chamberlain (who’s openly gay) and his partner in Bloomingdales in 1974. Realizing the object of his childhood lust was gay convinced Gold it was OK to come out.

The Trenton, N.J., native, who now lives in Conover, N.C., was in Washington this week to accept a lifetime achievement award from PEN, DC’s gay chamber of commerce. He started his eponymous furniture design company with Bob Williams, his domestic partner from 1987 to 2001, in 1989. The two remain business partners and best friends, though Gold is now engaged to Timothy Scofield, whom he plans to marry in September. Gold says the transition out of the romantic aspect of the relationship went smoothly because he and Williams were determined that it should go that way. “We weren’t stupid either,” Gold says. “We knew we had a successful business and hundreds of employees depending on us.”

Gold became passionate about gay rights work in the mid-’90s when the Defense of Marriage Act was signed by President Clinton. He has since used his business and celebrity connections to advocate for gay rights work. His second book, “Crisis,” which came out last year, tells the “growing-up-gay” stories of 40 prominent gay Americans. Gold, who enjoys reading historical books and biographies in his spare time and loves “The Daily Show,” says one of his favorite memories is a cell phone call from Chamberlain telling him he’d be happy to be in “Crisis.” “I almost drove my car off the road,” Gold says.

How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
32 years ALL the way out. My father … turned out to be the easiest.

Who’s your gay hero?
Mel White

What is Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
Nation

If gay marriage were legal, would you tie the knot?
Yes

What non-gay issue are you most passionate about?
Pre-K child care.

What historical outcome would you change?
DOMA passage and signing. It was disgraceful.

What has been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?
Al Gore winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He was vindicated … smart people smiled … the idiots who say there is no global warming cringed.

On what reality TV show would you fare best?
“Hollywood Squares”

What item of clothing has been in your closet since high school?
I really don’t have any, but for humor I’ll say athletic supporter.

If your life were a book, what would the title be?
“Pluck, Luck and Determination”

If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?
Oh goodness, if I weren’t engaged there are a few hetero guys I would change.

What do you believe in beyond the physical world?
It’s fuzzy but I sorta believe in reincarnation.

What would you order for your last meal?
Auntie Anne’s pretzel hot dog.

What would you walk across hot coals for?
To save my fiancé.

What gay stereotype annoys you most?
That all gays have good taste.

What is the best gay film ever made?
“Milk”

What is the most overrated social custom?
Dating girls in high school for closeted boys and vice versa.

What trophy or prize do you most covet?
The ones I get for having the vision to fight religion-based bigotry.

What’s your advice for gay teens?
Be strong. You are not alone. Create a family of friends that will support you if your parents are jerks.

Why Washington?
I don’t live here but love it. And I love it more now that there is a new energy of equality.