The Amazing Reichen

[January 18th, 2006] Former Air Force cadet Reichen Lehmkuhl is best known as one-half of the openly gay "married" couple who won the million-dollar prize on the fourth season of The Amazing Race (they broke up shortly after the show aired). Since then, this red-hot reality star has parlayed his 15 minutes into guest spots on sitcoms, soap operas and a few so-so movies. Now he's the host of his own self-help show on the Q Television Network.

With fame, fortune and good looks on his side, you'd think this 32-year-old would have it easy. You'd be wrong. Unable to adhere to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that stifles the two worlds this homo calls home—the military and Hollywood—Reichen sticks out like an incredibly attractive sore thumb. But, god bless him, he wouldn't have it any other way.

I met the godlike Lehmkuhl last November in New York at the GayLife Expo (he's as nice as he is handsome), where he was taping segments for his show. Last week, I caught up with him on the phone right before he went on the air.

Queer Window: How can you give relationship advice on TV, considering your own messy breakup?

Reichen Lehmkuhl: People say, "You've ruined the image of gay marriage in this country." It's difficult to explain that's not the case. I've been through a really good relationship and a really tough, public breakup. I think that qualifies me to give advice. I'm not just telling people how to make it great.

Do you get hit on by famous people?

I do, by supposedly straight people. I recently had a relationship with a network star no one would ever know is gay. We'd have a wonderful time when we were together privately, but it wasn't worth it. He promised everything would be great as long as I kept it quiet. With the money he makes, he's able to keep everything really quiet. But that's not me. Someone has got to be out in Hollywood, just trying to do his or her best. That's what I'm going to do.

What else are you going to do?

I'm writing a book called Here's What We'll Say about the lies I told to make it through the Air Force Academy. When I was at the academy, there was a network of gay cadets: lacrosse and football players, Rhodes Scholars. There was a lot of sex going on, literally underground, between us. When we graduated, we had "here's what we'll say" inscribed in our rings, because every time we came back to the academy, we'd have to get our lies straight. People did get caught, and they'd disappear in the middle of the night. They'd end up in court in humiliating trials. One person ended up being killed at the academy. [The network included] a senator's son. I want everyone to know how awful people are treated at these service academies. I want everyone to know what it's like to live like you're in Nazi Germany.