Reichen Lehmkuhl: Exclusive Interview

Reichen Lehmkuhl's next stop is gay Atlanta, where he'll sign copies of his new book "Here's What We'll Say" at Outwrite Bookstore on January 19th at 8 p.m. (sponsored by the Atlanta Executive Network).

We caught up with Reichen on vacation in Hawaii to talk about Atlanta, if he was really just using Lance Bass for publicity, and of course... that infamous Perez Hilton:

Where do you like to go when you come to Atlanta?

I don't know Atlanta very well so I just let my friends take me around. All I know is that I love going out there and I love the people I've met there. They are the kind of new friends who really make an effort to keep in touch.

Which did you find more challenging? "The Amazing Race" or "Fear Factor"?

"Amazing Race," for sure. The Amazing Race is harder than basic training in the military! Although "Fear Factor" was fun, too.

When did you decide you wanted to pursue television as an actor?

It's been a dream of mine since I was 12 years old. A self-fulfilling prophecy, I guess.

What was your favorite TV show to appear on?

So far it's been working on "Days of Our Lives." I really like the pace of soap operas and I learn so much from everyone on the set.

Why did you decide to write your book "Here's What We'll Say"?

I have wanted to write the book since I graduated from the Air Force Academy, but I started writing it almost three years ago, just after I signed with an agent and a publisher took the project. It was time for me to tell my story so that the people of this country could see what kinds of abuse their tax dollars were going toward.

I also had been heavily enrolled in acting classes and was, at the time, being asked to draw on tragedies in my life to spark up emotions for scenes. Remembering all that had happened to me motivated me to finally start writing. I let so much off my chest by writing that book.

Are your parents supportive of the book?

Yes, they found parts of it tough to read (because I'm still their "baby") but they stand behind my work 100%. I'm very lucky to have such loving and well-minded parents.

Was the military as supportive?

It's tough to say who "the military" really is. If it's the actual people fighting who don't care about serving next to gay people, then yes, they're supportive.

If it's the group of human rights criminals who are making policies that punish people for homosexuality that you're talking about, then, no, they have not been supportive.

Do you think there are a lot more gay people in the military than people realize?

No question in my mind... yes. And they have all written me letters... thousands of them.

Which do you enjoy more? Being an entrepreneur or a celebrity?

I enjoy making a difference in the things I care about within our community. I also enjoy making good decisions that secure my future. If that makes me successful or a celebrity, then I can embrace those titles as positive parts of my life, but they aren't my ultimate goal... nor words I would use to describe myself.

Do you think of yourself as a role model?

I view role models as perfect and, well, I'm not perfect. So it's tough for me to call myself a role model. If others emulate me and the way I speak out loud for equal-rights makes me a role model, then I'll accept that title.

How do you feel about coverage of you?

Mario Lavendeira (AKA "Perez Hilton") has been a nuisance to many people and I am only one person who finds him a bit annoying. He has been worse to many than he has been to me. I understand the fascination we all have with gossip, including myself, but we must realize this person is an accused thief on several accounts and has a fascination with drugs, as we have seen on his internet magazine site. If this is indeed true, then even more so, this is not someone we should or who I can take seriously.

The lies on his Internet magazine site go right along with the rest of his shady life. What bothers me is that he lies about things or exaggerates to make people, who have done little or nothing wrong, look bad while they continue to work in a tough industry. He also fabricates stories from scratch just to create gossip when things aren't interesting enough as they really are to get readers to his online magazine. His site is no longer a simple blog since he makes money from advertising. This is why I think it is illegal for him to steal pictures from photographers to make more money, while he tries to hide under the idea that he is a "blogger" and not a magazine. This is simply not true.

He has lied about my friends, as well as about me and my life several times, and he needs to be brought to court for his continued actions. Also, because he claims he is gay, let me point out that I do not consider Mr. Lavendeira to be gay, at all. He is merely a pervert who has a fascination with drug use, other people's sex-lives, body fluids, and what we all do in our bedrooms and private lives. He doesnt behave like any actual gay person I know. We must not confuse "gay" with what I consider "perverted".

I believe that Mr. Lavendeira has come to hurt us as gay people and to devalue our whole community to the public. I know I've shown my body to the public by modeling and some may feel this is objectionable, but I simply disagree. Modeling and doing charity work is a far cry from attacking people. So I feel justified in saying that considering him part of our gay community would be ridiculous.

So other than his accused past illegal actions, including theft, lying, defamation, libel, and slander, being answered for in a court of law, I don't really care about Mr. Lavendeira or what he does or says. I don't let it affect my life. I actually feel sorry for him. Our individual outlook on the world is a direct reflection of what we are made up of inside. His view of others' character and their motivations for working and committing to relationships are a direct reflection of what his character is and what his motivations are or would be. Its sad.

OK, so then I also ask you about Lance Bass. What do you say to those people -- including Perez Hilton -- who accused you of using him for publicity?

Wow, that's a loaded question. I'll settle this now. It comes up often and predisposes me as a "user". How can I say this really clearly? If I were actually that type of person, I wouldn't even want to be alive... it would have to be a miserable existence.

I think people who think this about me are the ones who, themselves, would "use" someone for publicity... so I wish those people, who actually think this way, would stop putting their shit on me. They need to get their own minds out of the gutter.

I pride myself in doing my own thing, having my own businesses and successes separate from those of my partner. This makes us whole people, individually. I'm happy when I do it on my own. It's no fun for a Type-A personality guy like me to accept help or for others to think I didn't get something on my own. I have a tremendous amount of personal pride in what I make happen.

Take my book for instance, which probably causes speculation. The book was done and set for publishing and distribution before I ever met Lance. And that's how I prefer it to be. That's doesn't exclude that his support of its mission warms my heart beyond description. Dating someone who is also in the public eye can appear a million ways to a million different people. I understand that, and I know rumors will always fly. Everyone loves a little gossip. There is plenty on me and I laugh it off. It's the only way to stay happy.

But answering these unprovoked, unfounded questions, that initially attack my character, with "how much I actually love my boyfriend to show I'm not using him" puts me in a position where I have to disclose the details of my personal relationship to prove something to people who don't deserve to know the first thing about it. So I keep quiet and hope for the best. Nice try, I'll say to them, but I remain private about my relationship and I don't owe proof of my character to anyone. I know who I am, and I know where my heart is and -- well, that's all I need to know.

What do you consider your most successful accomplishment?

Graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Is there anything you want to say to your fans in Atlanta?

I want to thank you and everyone else for supporting my work to end the ban on gays in the military. I'm also grateful to those who follow my entertainment career and root me on... it helps me to fulfill this childhood dream.

- Find out more about Reichen Lehmkuhl and his book at Reichen.us.

* For more gay Atlanta tips, tricks and insider secrets get the book ATLANTAboy: An Insider's Guide to Gay Atlanta on Amazon!

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Comments

[daniel....]

i like u so much.....
n i want know u more.....
can u give the reichen email.....

[Q Project]

Superb interview! Reichen is getting a bad wrap in the press, but he seems a tender person in reality. I enjoy him.

[David Henderson]

It should be noted that Reichen is NOT "[n]ewly single from Lance Bass". In this very interview, he calls Lance "my boyfriend", and on his blog he has denied the rumors that they'd split.

davidh