A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy – class of 1996 – Reichen
Lehmkuhl was honorably discharged as an Air Force Captain in 2001. He went on
to win the million-dollar grand prize on CBS’ Amazing Race , and has since
successfully launched an acting career appearing on television in Frasier, The
Drew Carey Show, Days of Our Lives, and The Young & The Restless and in the
films “Ethan Greene,” “Partners” and “The Scorned.” He also produced and hosted
The Reichen Show on Q Television Network. Reichen recently joined the season
three cast of the supernatural soap Dante’s Cove, debuting on here! network in
October 2007.
Most recently, Reichen partnered with celebrated designer Udi Behr of
LoveandPride.com to create the FLY NAKED with Reichen Collection.
This sleekly stylish jewelry collection for men takes its design inspiration from such
aviation motifs as wings and propellers. Available exclusively at
loveandpride.com, the FLY NAKED Collection includes rings, bracelets, pendants,
key rings, cuff links and money clips made of sleek titanium: the same material
used to build aircraft because of its light weight and tremendous strength.
Reichen’s grandmother, a pilot during World War II, inspired him to become a
pilot. Fly Naked is about being brave, bold and true to yourself.
Prior to his professional acting debut, Reichen was playing the role of his life
while in the Air Force. Not wanting to face a court martial for being gay,
Reichen had to live in two different worlds. One world where he had to watch
everything he did and said for fear of being outed; the other world where he
was completely free to be himself.
Reichen’s personal story, HERE’S WHAT WE’LL SAY: Growing Up, Coming Out and the
U.S. Air Force Academy (Carroll & Graf) was published in the fall of 2006
to critical acclaim and was excerpted in gay newspapers across the country.
Reichen has been called upon by CNN, Wolf Blitzer, as a “gay expert” on the
issues surrounding “Lifting the Ban on Gays in the Military” and is devoting
his time conducting speeches with gay cadets currently in the military.
He’s been interviewed on numerous national television and radio outlets
including Good Morning America, CNN “Show Biz Tonight”, The Tyra Banks Show,
Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, EXTRA, Associated Press Radio,
Premiere Radio Network, Sirius Satellite Radio Network, and Air America Radio
Network.
“One of the hardest things for me to reconcile was the fact that I was
completely open with my family and friends but faced the very real possibility
of being court martialed and going to jail if I had been open with my 'work'
colleagues.” As Reichen explains, “The ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy is so
contradictory to what the Air Force and all the armed forces stand for. The
U.S. Armed Forces claim to stand for honor, integrity, and honesty, but they
force you to lie in order to serve your country.” The contradictions in this
policy ultimately led him to opt out of the Air Force once he completed his
commitment.
An actor, international model, flight instructor and gay rights advocate,
Reichen lives in Southern California.