Interview With Reichen: What a sweetheart!

From making some cameo appearances to dating Lance Bass, we've go the 411 on this hottie...check it out: 1) When you were in the miliatry, what was the worst part about keeping your sexuality a secret? In the military, the situation is entirely different than in civilian life. Homophobia is allowed and almost celebrated as a "joke" all around you. Even if you want to come out, the threats are far greater because of your oath of office. You'll be considered a criminal who is subject to disciplinary action, immediately upon admitting your homosexuality. Add this to the woes of family or friend troubles when those important people in our lives don't understand you, or that you were born gay. Also, in the military, it's one of the last situations of discrimination in this country where the ones being discriminated against are actually silenced from speaking up for themselves, only prolonging the problem. This is why it's important for all of us, on the outside, to fight for our brothers and sisters within the ranks. 2) After you were tortured and came out as a gay man, did you finally say to yourself, "I'm free! I can't wait to live my life!"? OR did you regret everything and want to run back into the closet? Neither, really. I wouldn't say I was "tortured". I always found a way to live my "other" life and to be happy about it. It was part of survival and being in the military. Once I left the Air Force, I continuted to live the same way, but never had to deny the fact that I'm gay if I were asked. I didn't find it necessary to tell the world...until the world was told for me by my appearing on television. 3) Who in your life surprised you most with the reaction of knowing that you were gay? For the better or worse. My father was very cool and loving about it and I didn't think telling him would be so easy. "I'm proud of you and love you know matter what!" were the first words from his mouth when I told him. 4) Were you a ladie's man way back in the day, or did you always have a liking toward boys? I wasn't a "ladies man"--ha, but I always had a girlfriend and dated girls. I think I found it necessary to date girls to find "the one" who would actually do it for me. The problem was not the girls I dated at all...they were all beautiful and sweet. The problem was that I was gay! Yes, I always had a crush on this or that guy while growing up. I didn't know then that it was a crush, but now I understand that it most definitely was. 5) You've dated Lance Bass...how was that for you dating someone less experienced in the LGBT community? I mean, the poor guy just came out and was trying to deal...did that affect you at all? The relationship was a negative experience for me in general. There were too many people involved in my life for me to be happy. The book and the message of eradicating "Don't Ask Don't Tell" were overshadowed by the drama of that time and this saddens me. Chapter closed. I'm writing another book now. I'm not aware that my ex was any less experienced in the LGBT community than any other gay person, so I can't really fully answer the question. 6) Describe your perfect mate: Great sense of humor, makes me laugh, loyal, devoted, protects my privacy, good listener, intelligent, educated, ambitious, open-minded, knows what matters and what doesn't, and makes me feel happy. I just described the guy I'm with right now, Ryan. 7) How did your jewelery line for men come to be? I had done some modeling for Udi Behr Jewelers in New York and they had just launched a new line called, "Love and Pride" (www.LoveandPride.com). I met Udi and some others from his company for dinner in L.A. one night a couple years ago. At the end of dinner, the valet pulled my car around and Udi read my license plate at the time that read, "FLYN8KD". He asked me what it meant and I told him the story: that in civilian pilot training, we had a dare to, on our first solo flight in some aircraft, strip down and actually fly naked. So Fly Naked represents a conceptual dare to kind of strip down and to be who you are and to run, or fly, with that! 8) How has being a philanthropist changed your life? Thanks for saying I'm philanthropic. If that's what I am, great, but honestly I have many people around me who ask for my involvement in different charities and projects that help others. I say "yes", and when I actually go to volunteer or speak, or whatever it is that they need me to do, I grow from the experience and then it makes me want to do more. This is similar to when I was a little kid and my parents would walk me in the park and point out a plastic bag on the ground several feet away. They would tell me to go and get it and to throw it into a trash can or to hold onto it until we found a place to throw it away. After putting the first piece of plastic into a trash can, I was ON A MISSION, looking for more plastic bags and candy wrappers to throw away. It felt good to help out! "Leave the world more beautiful than when you found it," my parents would often tell me. 9) Will you continue to do philanthropic work or is it something you've seen and done and want to move on to bigger and better things? Nothing could be bigger or better than helping someone else. As long as I'm able, I will. 10) Please give words of wisdom to those struggling with their sexuality: Just remember that it's not really YOUR problem. It's everyone else's and your letting them make it all about you. When it's safe and practical for you, and when you're ready to understand this fact, come out and remember to be patient with those who don't understand you yet. The more patient you are, the better chance you have of allowing them to see that it's NO BIG DEAL. *ALL CONTENT IS COPYRIGHT MATERIAL - INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY GIUSEPPE*