Earlier this year, his much publicized relationship with Lance Bass was met with an onslaught of mainstream media attentionófor better or worse, the couple became the most visible in the gay community, turning up at premieres, album release parties and accepting dual honors from the Human Rights Campaign.

But quietly, through all the media attention, Reichen released a book. Hereís What Weíll Say, named for the phrase the former Air Force Captain and his fellow gay classmates would utter before concocting a cover story to prevent any of them from being outed and discharged, is a fairly blunt, if lightly sugarcoated take on what life is like for thousands of openly gay members of the Armed Forces.

Lehmkuhl is no wordsmith. His story doesnít conjure up lofty images of him one day taking home a Pulitzer or winning a Nobel Peace Prize for bringing to light the plight of the closeted solider.

But thereís something refreshing about his everyman take on life at the Air Force Academy, a time in which Lehmkuhl came to terms both with his sexuality and with the fact that life for gay members of the military is not only unfair, itís deplorable.

A few of his memories are tough to swallow, particularly a recurring theme in which Reichen laments what he considers to be a less than thrilling physique and gawky facial features. By bookís end, heís come to terms with the fact that heís well on track to becoming the gorgeous chiseled creature we see before us today, but itís hard to believe he was ever less than easy on the eyes.

A passage in which he recounts being blindfolded and raped by a duo of fellow classmates should speak to the horror of abuse so many in the military face, but because Lehmkuhl counters it with memories of a sudden sexual awakening and the odd sensation that he kind of liked what was happening to him, it cheapens the momentówhile the memory might be accurate, Hereís What Weíll Say should speak to the greater population, and this memory, sadly, does not.

Still, Hereís What Weíll Say is packed with plenty of fine momentsóitís finest the idea that so many of his fellow classmates managed to keep his secret through his years at the academy on into career in the Air Force. Gay classmates, straight classmates. Classmates who are homophobic and scared as the book commences but become some of the authors greatest allies as he comes of age and strength. Itís a sign that ìDonít Ask, Donít Tellî is so unthinkably outdated, it no longer represents the wishes of even itís most likely criticóstraight members of the military.

And of course, with any good coming of age novels, there re the string of sexual encountersófrom a threesome with two fellow cadets to the ting of his first broken heart, Reichen has a handle on titillating his audience with the promise of just enough skin.

Nothing revolutionary hereóa well meaning if sometimes meandering trek through the murky waters of military life. But that someone so easily accessible to the gay community as Reichen lived it, remembers it and cares to tell of it has done so with such a personal touch makes it a potent, engaging read.

Now if only someone had the foresight to include some shirtless photos among the lesson plan.

Hereís What Weíll Say is available now from Carroll & Graf.

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