Amazing Race Winner Reichen Speaks Out as a Victim of Discrimination
Sat. March 12, 2005 12:00 AM by GayWebMonkey.com
Los Angeles, CA -
Amazing Race winner, Reichen Lehmkuhl Burke thought he was finished with a race that took him all over the world meeting various peoples and cultures, but it turns out, his biggest challenge is in his own backyard.
On February 22, Mr. Burke received a "30 day notice of intent" letter from the owner of Progressive Ventures in Vacaville, California, who has been printing Reichen's posters for the past few months.
In the letter sent to Mr. Burke, it mentioned that in 30 days, Progressive Ventures will no longer be able to print his posters because: "I learned you are homosexual, and your web-site is helping to promote a homosexual lifestyle. Not only in adults, but in underage children as well." wrote Mark Jones, owner of the company.
It seems Mr. Jones did not have a problem selling Reichen's posters until he went to Reichen's web site (www.Reichen.org) and found out Reichen was gay.
"I also realized the posters I have been printing help promote you and your lifestyle." writes Mr. Jones.
"When he went to my web site, he must have seen my biography listing me as a 'gay rights advocate,'" says Reichen, "and also a mention of the radio show on the internet that I co-host on www.TheFishBowl.com, called 'Coming Out with Reichen'. There I help men and women of all ages deal with coming out to their family, friends and co-workers in a more positive and safe way. How this helps to promote homosexuality to underage children, I'll never know."
"Mr. Jones went on to say, 'People are not born gay, anymore than they are born adulters. Or Murders. Or thieves. It is the choices they make that they will be judged by, and this is contributing to the decline in moral values in our nation today.'"
"Promoting homosexuality is impossible. Homosexuality simply exists. His accusations are absurd. This man obviously had no problem selling my posters with the possibility of them being sold to women of any age, but when he found out I was gay, he decided they were being sold to the gay community to help promote the gay lifestyle." says Reichen.
"For me, the most terrible aspect of this incident is that Mr. Jones bases his hateful actions on his 'Christianity' and calls himself a 'Right Wing Conservative'. The worst outcome from Mr. Jones' behavior would be that more people will turn away from spirituality in their own lives, thinking that the Christian way is to hate gay people and to cause them harm. This saddens me, greatly. I receive hundreds of emails per week from people of all ages asking my advice on how to live with their sexual orientation. Some, including young people, tell me that they want to kill themselves. That adults and children feel this way is horrifying to me. I'm doing something about this disgusting situation in our country. I'm letting people know that they are PERFECT exactly as they are so that they may lead lives of truth and happiness. It's time for our society to evolve and to stop the pain."
Reichen will be holding a press conference along with Civil Rights Attorney John Duran to answer legal questions at 10AM on March 16th at The Abbey Food & Bar in West Hollywood, CA.
Reichen will speak about this incident as well as speak about the upcoming California Anti-discrimination bill that awaits a vote in committee and needs to pass the full Senate to be sent to the governor in May.
"We need to have protection against this kind of discrimination in the workplace and in business." explains Reichen. "The posters he was selling had no offensive writing nor were they offensive in any manner. He (Mr. Jones) blatantly refused to sell any more posters based solely on my sexual orientation and nothing more."
© 2005 GayWired.com, All Rights Reserved
Related: Photos of Reichen at Sound-Bar (Real Deal Chicago 4/22/2004)
On February 22, Mr. Burke received a "30 day notice of intent" letter from the owner of Progressive Ventures in Vacaville, California, who has been printing Reichen's posters for the past few months.
In the letter sent to Mr. Burke, it mentioned that in 30 days, Progressive Ventures will no longer be able to print his posters because: "I learned you are homosexual, and your web-site is helping to promote a homosexual lifestyle. Not only in adults, but in underage children as well." wrote Mark Jones, owner of the company.
It seems Mr. Jones did not have a problem selling Reichen's posters until he went to Reichen's web site (www.Reichen.org) and found out Reichen was gay.
"I also realized the posters I have been printing help promote you and your lifestyle." writes Mr. Jones.
"When he went to my web site, he must have seen my biography listing me as a 'gay rights advocate,'" says Reichen, "and also a mention of the radio show on the internet that I co-host on www.TheFishBowl.com, called 'Coming Out with Reichen'. There I help men and women of all ages deal with coming out to their family, friends and co-workers in a more positive and safe way. How this helps to promote homosexuality to underage children, I'll never know."
"Mr. Jones went on to say, 'People are not born gay, anymore than they are born adulters. Or Murders. Or thieves. It is the choices they make that they will be judged by, and this is contributing to the decline in moral values in our nation today.'"
"Promoting homosexuality is impossible. Homosexuality simply exists. His accusations are absurd. This man obviously had no problem selling my posters with the possibility of them being sold to women of any age, but when he found out I was gay, he decided they were being sold to the gay community to help promote the gay lifestyle." says Reichen.
"For me, the most terrible aspect of this incident is that Mr. Jones bases his hateful actions on his 'Christianity' and calls himself a 'Right Wing Conservative'. The worst outcome from Mr. Jones' behavior would be that more people will turn away from spirituality in their own lives, thinking that the Christian way is to hate gay people and to cause them harm. This saddens me, greatly. I receive hundreds of emails per week from people of all ages asking my advice on how to live with their sexual orientation. Some, including young people, tell me that they want to kill themselves. That adults and children feel this way is horrifying to me. I'm doing something about this disgusting situation in our country. I'm letting people know that they are PERFECT exactly as they are so that they may lead lives of truth and happiness. It's time for our society to evolve and to stop the pain."
Reichen will be holding a press conference along with Civil Rights Attorney John Duran to answer legal questions at 10AM on March 16th at The Abbey Food & Bar in West Hollywood, CA.
Reichen will speak about this incident as well as speak about the upcoming California Anti-discrimination bill that awaits a vote in committee and needs to pass the full Senate to be sent to the governor in May.
"We need to have protection against this kind of discrimination in the workplace and in business." explains Reichen. "The posters he was selling had no offensive writing nor were they offensive in any manner. He (Mr. Jones) blatantly refused to sell any more posters based solely on my sexual orientation and nothing more."
© 2005 GayWired.com, All Rights Reserved
Related: Photos of Reichen at Sound-Bar (Real Deal Chicago 4/22/2004)
Article provided in partnership with GayWebMonkey.com.