Reichen Lehmkuhl
Encyclopedia
Reichen Lehmkuhl, is an American former reality show winner, model
, and occasional actor. A former Air Force officer, he is best known for winning season four
of the reality
game show
The Amazing Race with his then-partner Chip Arndt
, and for his much publicized 2006 relationship with pop
singer Lance Bass
.
, and his mother remarried. Sometime after 2002, he changed his first name legally from Richard to Reichen.
At age 16, he received and accepted an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy
. After graduating in 1996, he served five years and attained the rank of Captain before his honorable discharge. He has since advocated for gay rights in the military as a spokesperson for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
. He briefly attended the University of Virginia
.
and model
in Los Angeles when he was approached by a casting director for The Amazing Race. Lehmkuhl and Chip Arndt
were a happy couple during the competition but have since split. Lehmkuhl moved to Dallas, Texas
briefly after his win on The Amazing Race but before all episodes had been broadcast. Reichen's spending habits at that time caused speculation that he had won The Amazing Race — and that he and Arndt had broken up. During the show, the couple was typically described as "Married" in the subtitles that are used to illustrate the relationship between team members (other teams being, for example, "Best Friends" or "Father-Daughter").
in September 2003 as "Impossibly Handsome Man."
Lehmkuhl hosted The Reichen Show on Q Television Network
until Q Television ceased operations in May 2006. His autobiography Here's What We'll Say, about his time in the Air Force under the military's commonly called "Don't ask, don't tell
" policy, was released by Carroll and Graf on October 28, 2006. The New York Post reported in November 2010 that the book had been adapted into a screenplay. He published a beefcake
calendar for several years and has appeared on sitcoms, soap opera
s, and other reality television shows.
On May 1, 2007, the LGBT-interest television network here! announced that Lehmkuhl had joined the cast for the third season of its original gothic soap opera, Dante's Cove
. He plays the role of Trevor, originally described as "a business school graduate who comes to Dante's Cove looking to find himself."
Lehmkuhl also has a jewelry line called Flying Naked composed of flight-themed jewelry made of titanium steel. Items from the collection are being sold from loveandpride.com. A percentage of each sale goes to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
.
Lehmkuhl starred in My Big Gay Italian Wedding
, an off-Broadway production from its opening May 5, 2010 in New York City to July 24, 2010. A percentage of ticket sales promoted legalization of same-sex marriages in the US through Broadway Impact.
LGBT-interest network Logo
announced on June 3, 2010 that Lehmkuhl and his current boyfriend, model Rodiney Santiago had joined the cast of Logo's reality series, The A-List: New York
. The series, frequently described as a "Real Housewives"-style show, taped over the summer and aired in the fall.
band member Lance Bass
told People Magazine that he is gay
and in a "very stable relationship" with Lehmkuhl. Bass and Lehmkuhl's relationship became the subject of significant tabloid coverage; however, the media did not take kindly to Lehmkuhl. Page Six reported that the "cash-strapped" Lehmkuhl was using Bass for money and publicity for his upcoming memoir. Tabloids also reported that Bass' friends disapproved of his relationship with Lehmkuhl, claiming "[Lehmkuhl] is a big gay activist and very controlling. He wants Lance to give up his straight friends and do whatever he tells him to."
Lehmkuhl responded to tabloid rumors by saying, "If I were actually that type of person, I wouldn't even want to be alive... it would have to be a miserable existence." Regarding the timing of his book release, he stated, "The book was done and set for publishing and distribution before I ever met Lance."
In December 2006, Lehmkuhl threatened to file a lawsuit against gossip blogger Perez Hilton
, after Hilton posted items for months that implied Lehmkuhl was cheating
on Bass, and that he was a user of crystal meth
. In a blog posted to his MySpace
, Lehmkuhl stated, "It is not clear how the lawsuit will be structured, but we are committed ... the goal of this lawsuit is to result in the stopping of your name being used in connection with untruths and gossip on the internet that obviously damage/ruin your name/reputation and lessen your ability to be successful in your profession." Hilton responded by stating, "Now that he can't comfortably ride Lance Bass' coattails, this is Reichen's latest transparent attempt to get publicity for himself. I applaud him!"
Bass and Lehmkuhl split in January 2007. and subsequently, Lehmkuhl dropped his lawsuit against Perez and removed the post from his MySpace. Hilton and Lehmkuhl remain rivals, with Hilton once posting on his website that he will take a picture with anyone, "except for Lance Bass
's boyfriend or Fidel Castro
... and they're both practically dead to [me] anyways!" Hilton also posted naked pictures purported to be of Lehmkuhl on unratedperez.com on April 6, 2011.
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, and occasional actor. A former Air Force officer, he is best known for winning season four
The Amazing Race 4
The Amazing Race 4 is the fourth installment of the reality television show on US television The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race 4 featured 12 teams of two, with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world...
of the reality
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
The Amazing Race with his then-partner Chip Arndt
Chip Arndt
Chip Arndt is an American gay activist, best known as a winner of The Amazing Race 4 in 2003 with former partner Reichen Lehmkuhl. The team was the first out gay couple to win a reality television competition...
, and for his much publicized 2006 relationship with pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer Lance Bass
Lance Bass
James Lance Bass , best known as Lance Bass, is an American pop singer, dancer, actor, film and television producer, and author. He grew up in Mississippi and rose to fame as the bass singer for the American pop boy band 'N Sync. 'N Sync's success led Bass to work in film and television...
.
Early life
After Lehmkuhl's parents, a policeman and a nurse, divorced when he was five, his family moved to Norton, MassachusettsNorton, Massachusetts
Norton is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, and contains the village of Norton Center. The population was 18,036 at the 2000 census...
, and his mother remarried. Sometime after 2002, he changed his first name legally from Richard to Reichen.
At age 16, he received and accepted an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
. After graduating in 1996, he served five years and attained the rank of Captain before his honorable discharge. He has since advocated for gay rights in the military as a spokesperson for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a non-profit legal services, watchdog, and policy organization founded in the United States in 1993. It is dedicated to ending discrimination and harassment of gay and lesbian U.S. military personnel negatively affected by the "Don't ask, don't tell"...
. He briefly attended the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
The Amazing Race
Lehmkuhl was working simultaneously as a physics teacher at Crossroads School for the Arts and Sciences, flight instructorFlight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
and model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
in Los Angeles when he was approached by a casting director for The Amazing Race. Lehmkuhl and Chip Arndt
Chip Arndt
Chip Arndt is an American gay activist, best known as a winner of The Amazing Race 4 in 2003 with former partner Reichen Lehmkuhl. The team was the first out gay couple to win a reality television competition...
were a happy couple during the competition but have since split. Lehmkuhl moved to Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
briefly after his win on The Amazing Race but before all episodes had been broadcast. Reichen's spending habits at that time caused speculation that he had won The Amazing Race — and that he and Arndt had broken up. During the show, the couple was typically described as "Married" in the subtitles that are used to illustrate the relationship between team members (other teams being, for example, "Best Friends" or "Father-Daughter").
After The Amazing Race
Lehmkuhl had a cameo in an episode of FrasierFrasier
Frasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier stars...
in September 2003 as "Impossibly Handsome Man."
Lehmkuhl hosted The Reichen Show on Q Television Network
Q Television Network
Q Television Network was an American cable television channel which aired programming targeted to the lesbian, gay, and bisexual audiences. It was owned by Triangle Multimedia. The channel aired a mix of film, documentary and music programming, along with a number of original talk and information...
until Q Television ceased operations in May 2006. His autobiography Here's What We'll Say, about his time in the Air Force under the military's commonly called "Don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
" policy, was released by Carroll and Graf on October 28, 2006. The New York Post reported in November 2010 that the book had been adapted into a screenplay. He published a beefcake
Beefcake
Beefcake is a term denoting the use of nude or semi-nude male bodies. It can refer to a genre or a person. It often is used to denote male sexual attractiveness stemming from physical build but the definition has expanded to include anyone interested in physical fitness, bodybuilding and weight...
calendar for several years and has appeared on sitcoms, soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
s, and other reality television shows.
On May 1, 2007, the LGBT-interest television network here! announced that Lehmkuhl had joined the cast for the third season of its original gothic soap opera, Dante's Cove
Dante's Cove
Dante's Cove is an American LGBT-oriented supernatural soap opera. The series airs on here!, an American gay-oriented network, and on Gay.com....
. He plays the role of Trevor, originally described as "a business school graduate who comes to Dante's Cove looking to find himself."
Lehmkuhl also has a jewelry line called Flying Naked composed of flight-themed jewelry made of titanium steel. Items from the collection are being sold from loveandpride.com. A percentage of each sale goes to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a non-profit legal services, watchdog, and policy organization founded in the United States in 1993. It is dedicated to ending discrimination and harassment of gay and lesbian U.S. military personnel negatively affected by the "Don't ask, don't tell"...
.
Lehmkuhl starred in My Big Gay Italian Wedding
My Big Gay Italian Wedding
My Big Gay Italian Wedding is a play written by Anthony J. Wilkinson that includes original music and lyrics written by David Boyd. It premiered off-Broadway in 2003 at the Actor's Playhouse in New York City. In September 2009, a revised version produced by Dina Manzo of Bravo's The Real Housewives...
, an off-Broadway production from its opening May 5, 2010 in New York City to July 24, 2010. A percentage of ticket sales promoted legalization of same-sex marriages in the US through Broadway Impact.
LGBT-interest network Logo
Logo (TV channel)
Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Launched in June 2005, the channel's programs are geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community...
announced on June 3, 2010 that Lehmkuhl and his current boyfriend, model Rodiney Santiago had joined the cast of Logo's reality series, The A-List: New York
The A-List: New York
The A-List: New York is an American reality television series from the LGBT-interest network Logo. The series, frequently described as a Real Housewives-style show, follows the lives of six gay and bisexual men in New York City. The series was originally announced under the title Kept but the title...
. The series, frequently described as a "Real Housewives"-style show, taped over the summer and aired in the fall.
Relationship with Lance Bass
On July 26, 2006, former 'N Sync'N Sync
N Sync was an American boy band formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995 and launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich, *NSYNC consisted of JC Chasez, Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick...
band member Lance Bass
Lance Bass
James Lance Bass , best known as Lance Bass, is an American pop singer, dancer, actor, film and television producer, and author. He grew up in Mississippi and rose to fame as the bass singer for the American pop boy band 'N Sync. 'N Sync's success led Bass to work in film and television...
told People Magazine that he is gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and in a "very stable relationship" with Lehmkuhl. Bass and Lehmkuhl's relationship became the subject of significant tabloid coverage; however, the media did not take kindly to Lehmkuhl. Page Six reported that the "cash-strapped" Lehmkuhl was using Bass for money and publicity for his upcoming memoir. Tabloids also reported that Bass' friends disapproved of his relationship with Lehmkuhl, claiming "[Lehmkuhl] is a big gay activist and very controlling. He wants Lance to give up his straight friends and do whatever he tells him to."
Lehmkuhl responded to tabloid rumors by saying, "If I were actually that type of person, I wouldn't even want to be alive... it would have to be a miserable existence." Regarding the timing of his book release, he stated, "The book was done and set for publishing and distribution before I ever met Lance."
In December 2006, Lehmkuhl threatened to file a lawsuit against gossip blogger Perez Hilton
Perez Hilton
Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr. , better known as Perez Hilton , is an American blogger and television personality. His blog, Perezhilton.com , is known for posts covering gossip items about celebrities...
, after Hilton posted items for months that implied Lehmkuhl was cheating
Infidelity
In many intimate relationships in many cultures there is usually an express or implied expectation of exclusivity, especially in sexual matters. Infidelity most commonly refers to a breach of the expectation of sexual exclusivity.Infidelity can occur in relation to physical intimacy and/or...
on Bass, and that he was a user of crystal meth
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
. In a blog posted to his MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
, Lehmkuhl stated, "It is not clear how the lawsuit will be structured, but we are committed ... the goal of this lawsuit is to result in the stopping of your name being used in connection with untruths and gossip on the internet that obviously damage/ruin your name/reputation and lessen your ability to be successful in your profession." Hilton responded by stating, "Now that he can't comfortably ride Lance Bass' coattails, this is Reichen's latest transparent attempt to get publicity for himself. I applaud him!"
Bass and Lehmkuhl split in January 2007. and subsequently, Lehmkuhl dropped his lawsuit against Perez and removed the post from his MySpace. Hilton and Lehmkuhl remain rivals, with Hilton once posting on his website that he will take a picture with anyone, "except for Lance Bass
Lance Bass
James Lance Bass , best known as Lance Bass, is an American pop singer, dancer, actor, film and television producer, and author. He grew up in Mississippi and rose to fame as the bass singer for the American pop boy band 'N Sync. 'N Sync's success led Bass to work in film and television...
's boyfriend or Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
... and they're both practically dead to [me] anyways!" Hilton also posted naked pictures purported to be of Lehmkuhl on unratedperez.com on April 6, 2011.