Reichen Lehmkuhl on being out in Hollywood...
Reichen Lehmkhul, best known for winning the first "Amazing Race," is now writing a column for Advocate.com. I don't need much of an excuse to post photos of Reichen who is, as you can see, a real beefcake, but I did find some interesting part of his column in regards to coming out in Hollywood. Here is an exceprt:
I have auditioned for movie roles, soap opera parts, and other television roles where the final decision of "no" came down to the fact that I'm just "too out." Not "too stereotypically gay," but "too out."
Why is this a problem? I'm told that it's because many viewers out there who become fans of their television show's leading men won't be able to connect to that character if the viewer knows that the actor is really a gay guy. I've been told that conservative-minded companies that sponsor some of these programs wouldn't look kindly on the actor in, say, a leading male role if he were actually gay.
Is there something broken about these ideas? Of course there is! Should we ever pander to the prejudices of others to make them feel more comfortable? No. Should sponsors be able to have a say in the private-life sexuality of one of their actors? No way.
But this is reality -- though it's happening less frequently. The truth remains that the more we are out, ignoring the prejudice and stigma, fewer entertainers will have to worry about their sexuality.
Not all actors and artists have the luxury of being out, however. At first their reasons for being closeted may be financial. A struggling actor or musical artist who is working up the ranks isn't going to divulge their homosexuality for fear of stopping that forward career momentum. Then, after they are rich, famous, and popular, there might be a different type of pressure from the artist's management, lawyers, and agencies to hide who they are for fear of not being picked for that next movie or to record another pop culture-oriented album.
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About Out
in Hollywood
Greg Hernandez authored Out In Hollywood for the Daily News from June 2006 to February 2009. He can now be found at Greg In Hollywood: www.greginhollywood.com
I have seen Lemkuhl's work. Not the greatest. He is barely more that a hard body for pay model when he is on screen. What happened to that comfortably out gay man on the AMAZING RACE. While he may be a tasty delight to look at, you need a lot more than looks to be a working actor. I think he needs to have a chat with Tuc Watkins, Guillermo Diaz, or even his ex Lance Bass about what it means to be an out working actor, let alone an out working star such as Ian McKellan, Nathan Lane, or Neil Patrick Harris.
I know nothing about Mr. Lemkuhl personally other than what I see on websites and his limited work. I don't think he is too out or not stereotypically gay. He comes across as one of hundreds of pretty gay men who populate West Hollywood and environs thinking that a pretty body and a hard face is all that it takes to achieve fame and adoration. Here's what we'll say, "Reichen, whatever it is, you don't have it." and "Don't quit your day job."