Even though audiences know him best as a reality TV star from his million-dollar-winning stint on The Amazing Race, Reichen Lehmkuhl spent much of his life playing a role, especially when he entered the Air Force and found himself facing court martial if he was open about his personal life as a gay man. Now the host of Q Television’s The Reichen Show has written a candid and critical memoir, Here’s What We’ll Say: Growing Up, Coming Out, and the U.S. Air Force Academy, that recounts his experiences being forcibly closeted if he wanted to serve his country, in the hopes of changing the military’s policies toward gay servicemen and women.
“What’s not great about this?” Lehmkuhl’s partner Lance Bass, the *NSYNC star who recently went public with his own sexual orientation, told Hollywood.com. “A new relationship and you get to read their autobiography—everyone should be so lucky. You get to learn a lot about them really fast. I’m extremely proud of him. I’m going to support him and what he’s fighting for especially with the upcoming election.”
Hollywood.com: What motivated you to write this autobiography?
Reichen Lehmkuhl: The first time I thought of wanted to write the book was back when I was at the Academy. I remember saying “someone should make a movie about this or write a book.” About two years I decided to write the book. And I got the contract and they said it was going to be released in October 2006 and I thought that was so far away and now here we are.
HW: What will readers expect to read?
RL: It basically starts at the beginning. Basically the first days of my life and kind of what events that shaped my personality to show why I dealt with some of the things I dealt with the way that I did at the Academy. Then it goes into my acceptance into the Academy and my time there. Some of the atrocities that were committed to me while I was there. Both on me and other cadets under the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and ban on gays. The book also talks about the secret society that was formed within the academy with all those gay cadets.
HW: What are your views toward the military now, after your experiences?
RL: Ironically I still love the military. I did not write this book to destroy the Air Force, or Air Force Academy, or the military. I am very patriotic and I have a very deep respect for all of these institutions. I wrote this book to make these institutions better.
HW: When did you finally decide come out to your friends and family?
RL: I came out in 2001 finally when I got out of the military. I was able to tell everyone on national television because of The Amazing Race. It became a really big deal.
HW: And how have things with Lance been going since the two of you went public with your relationship and your experiences n the military have come out.
RL: Lance and I don’t talk about our personal relationship, but I will say that he is very supportive of this book and to lift the ban of gays in the military.
HW: How are you handling being in the spotlight now?
RL: There’s a lot of gossip out there. It’s a really tough thing. It’s been a crazy time in our life. But the truth of who we are will always come out. You can’t listen to the gossip. What I am about is in this book.
–Reporting by Margi Blash
