Reichen Lehmkuhl
Reichen Lehmkuhl is the male model and gay rights activist who most people remember as the winner of season four’s The Amazing Race. Lehmkuhl along with his then-partner, Chip Arndt, won the reality television competition show hosted by Phil Keoghan in 2003. A poster-boy validating the heterosexual woman’s burning question “why are the gorgeous ones always gay?” Lehmkuhl has made other television appearances as an actor and a host, serves as a spokesperson for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), and has written an autobiography.
Born Richard Lehmkuhl on December 26, 1973 in Cincinnati, Ohio , Lehmkuhl legally changed his name to Reichen when he was older. After his parents divorced, he moved with his mother to Massachusetts at the age of five. Lehmkuhl graduated from the United States Airforce Academy in 1996 after attending on a nomination from Congressman Barney Franks. Lehmkuhl served five years in the Airforce advancing to the rank of captain before he was honorably discharged. After his military experience, he became an advocate of gay rights and a spokesperson for gay military rights through SLDN, the non-profit organization advocating for an end to discrimination and harassment of gay military personnel.
After his military service, but before The Amazing Race, Lehmkuhl worked as a model, physics teacher, and flight instructor in Los Angeles . It was there that he was approached by a casting director for the show and so was chosen to participate in the global, cross-continental race. This particular installment of the show won it its second Emmy for Best Reality Television Competition Program.
Since the race, Lehmkuhl has also appeared on daytime dramas including The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives which in the past has starred two of Hugh Hefner's Playboy magazine models, Lisa Rinna and Shannon Tweed. Lehmkuhl has also made appearances on sitcoms such as The Drew Carey Show and Frasier with Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce. In 2006, his autobiography “Here’s What We’ll Say” was published. In his book, Lehmkuhl talks of his time in the military under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy instituted by President Clinton in 2003 as a way to change the previous ban on homosexual or bisexual individuals serving in the military.
Though during the filming of The Amazing Race Lehmkuhl and Arndt were described as “married”, they split up shortly after filming. According to a July 2006 interview given to People Magazine, Lance Bass, former ‘N Sync band member, stated that he is openly gay and in a steady relationship with Lehmkuhl.
With his book fresh on the shelves of bookstores, Lehmkuhl can now focus on acting. He appears to have a continued interest in film and television, though it’s unclear where he may turn up next. |
