Harold & Kumar star Kal Penn comes out as gay and reveals he’s engaged

Actor Kal Penn has come out as gay in his new memoir. 

His book, You Can’t Be Serious, will discuss details of his life no one outside of his family and close friends have been privy to until now.

The biggest revelation is that the 44-year-old former Obama administration staffer has been in a same-sex relationship with his partner Josh for more than eleven years and the couple is now engaged.  

Actor-turned-author: Actor Kal Penn is releasing a memoir November 2

In the literary effort he shares the story of how his long-term relationship came to be, starting with a first date that included an 18-pack of beer. 

‘I thought, “This obviously is not going to work out,”‘ he writes in the book. ‘I have one day off from The White House and this dude is unironically watching cars go around and make left turns? Next thing you know, it’s been a couple months and we’re watching NASCAR every Sunday.’

Although he divulges personal details throughout the book, he noted that his partner and family members are private, and so he protects their identities. 

He told People: ‘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.’

Candid: His book, You Can’t Be Serious, will discuss details of his life no one outside of his family and close friends have been privy to until now

On Sunday he appeared on Instagram to promote his upcoming project with his 260,000 followers.

‘Kicking off book launch week with @cbssundaymorning today!’ he wrote on the app. ‘So excited to share my stories with you. #YouCantBeSerious.’ 

The caption accompanied three photos of the Harold and Kumar star. 

In one he poses in front of a dark backdrop, a serious look on his face as he sits with his hands folded. He’s wearing a ruched, blue dress shirt plus a black hoodie with a corsage pinned to it.

Outtake: The biggest revelation is that the 44-year-old former Obama administration staffer has been in a same-sex relationship with his partner Josh for more than eleven years…and the couple is engaged

A second photo in the slide features a more laid back feel, as the writer is pictured with a bright blue background and several hands in the shot as they primp the subject.

And a third image is an excerpt from the imminent work – a black and white throwback shot of the Hollywood success wearing a Hollister sweatshirt and eyeglasses as he reads.

In his print debut he shares, ‘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.’

Press rounds: Kal appeared on CBS Sunday morning on October 31 to promote his new book 

Respect to privacy: Although he divulges personal details throughout the book, he noted that his partner and family members are private, and so he protects their identities; seen at an early vote rally in New Jersey earlier this month