Reality does not bite for these memorable guys

AfterElton.com has ranked the top 15 gay reality stars – according to a readers poll – and has new interviews with most of them.

The late Pedro Zamora from Real World: San Francisco ranked #2 behind top vote-getter Danny Roberts of Real World: New Orleans. I’m not into Project Runway so anyone from there I’m just gonna ingore in this post.

But I was happy to see J.P. Calderon of Survivor and Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency come in at #5 and 2003 Amazing Race winners Chip Arndt and Reichen Lehmkuhl had enough votes to finish seventh. I also like that Clay Aiken made the list – something that would have not been possible before last year when he finally came out.

Here’s a little of what Chip and Reichen had to say:

Chip was “surprised and touched” that the former couple made the list: “It’s been six years since TAR. That’s 50 gay years and 50 reality TV years. Thanks to everyone who remembered!”

Reichen reflected on the impact the show has had on his life: : “Doing The Amazing Race changed my life completely from one of anonymity to having not much of a private life at all. I know what it’s like to search for privacy as much as possible now . . . something I never thought about before. I can’t imagine how real stars do it since I do it on my own small scale and I don’t consider myself famous at all.”

To read the rest of the interviews and photos of all the men, go to AfterElton.com