| Chip Arndt |
Whether walking Hollywood red carpets or wearing a
red ribbon to remind others that the fight against
AIDS is not over, Chip Arndt has become a unique
example of someone who has successfully
transformed the winner’s circle into a platform for
social change. In 2003, he and Reichen Lehmkuhl
triumphed over 11 other teams in the Emmy-winning
The Amazing Race—the first openly gay couple to
win any reality contest, let alone its one million dollar
prize.
Recruited for the critically acclaimed “thinking man’s
reality show,” they were, in many ways, totally unlike
the convenient gay stereotypes television typically
spoon-feeds its audiences. While not technically
married, they considered their relationship just as
valid as those who were, and, so, more than a year
before the landmark decision by the Massachusetts
Supreme Judicial Court legalizing gay marriage, they
were the first gay couple to take a stand for such
unions on a network series. Insisting that CBS
identify them as “married,” approval only came after
their demand was escalated to network president Les
Moonves.
red ribbon to remind others that the fight against
AIDS is not over, Chip Arndt has become a unique
example of someone who has successfully
transformed the winner’s circle into a platform for
social change. In 2003, he and Reichen Lehmkuhl
triumphed over 11 other teams in the Emmy-winning
The Amazing Race—the first openly gay couple to
win any reality contest, let alone its one million dollar
prize.
Recruited for the critically acclaimed “thinking man’s
reality show,” they were, in many ways, totally unlike
the convenient gay stereotypes television typically
spoon-feeds its audiences. While not technically
married, they considered their relationship just as
valid as those who were, and, so, more than a year
before the landmark decision by the Massachusetts
Supreme Judicial Court legalizing gay marriage, they
were the first gay couple to take a stand for such
unions on a network series. Insisting that CBS
identify them as “married,” approval only came after
their demand was escalated to network president Les
Moonves.
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Chip was born the youngest and only boy of four children, graduated from the prestigious,
private Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, after which he won a fellowship for an extra year at the
Harrow School, outside London.
He played professional golf for a time, then worked at Morgan Stanley Investment bank, before
entering Harvard University for an MBA in 1996 He was President of the Harvard Graduate
School Leadership and Ethics Forum, Chairman and Founder of the Annual Harvard Business,
Law, and Kennedy School of Government Debate, and President of the Harvard Business
School Gay and Lesbian Student Association.
He worked as an investment banker for Morgan Stanley in the US, Europe and Asia as well as in
a variety of capacities in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, notably with Steve Tisch,
through his holding company Arndt Strategies. As the former Public Relations and Marketing
Manager for Care Resource, South Florida's oldest and largest HIV/AIDS services organization,
he helped produce the 2005 AIDS Walk Miami, and spearheaded the 21st annual White Party,
its week-long fund-raiser, which, at his initiative, emphasized a zero tolerance drugs policy for
the first time.
Currently, he is Co-Founder and Executive Vice President at www.MerchantAdvantage.com a
Miami-based e-commerce software company and serves on the Board of Directors of FLIMP www.
Flimp.com a Boston-based rich media, video e-mail company. He is President of Miami Dade’s
Freedom Democrats www.FreedomDems.org , was a founder and serves on the Board of Gay
American Heroes Foundation www.GayAmericanHeroes.com , was Grand Marshall for AIDS Walk
2007 in Washington, DC, and continues to raise money each year for HIV/AIDS for 9
organizations in Florida, Washington DC, and New York City at his website www.myspace.
com/chiparndt
Especially moved by the persistent stream of messages he receives from young people, Chip will
launch a personal Website for emerging LGBT youth in 2008. An information resource, it will
include stories of a variety of LGBT achievers from both history and today’s headlines, as well as
detail Chip’s own journey from a closeted teenager to an internationally known gay activist.
Devoted to helping those living with HIV/AIDS since his days living and working in New York for
Morgan Stanley in the late 1990’s, Chip earlier this year launched an ambitious $100,000
HIV/AIDS fundraising drive for 2007 which will benefit eight HIV/AIDS not-for-profit organizations
in Washington DC, New York City, and the state of Florida. The drive is called CPR to AAA =
Chip’s Personal Response to AIDS Across America. Information related to that project can be
found at www.myspace.com/chiparndt
private Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, after which he won a fellowship for an extra year at the
Harrow School, outside London.
He played professional golf for a time, then worked at Morgan Stanley Investment bank, before
entering Harvard University for an MBA in 1996 He was President of the Harvard Graduate
School Leadership and Ethics Forum, Chairman and Founder of the Annual Harvard Business,
Law, and Kennedy School of Government Debate, and President of the Harvard Business
School Gay and Lesbian Student Association.
He worked as an investment banker for Morgan Stanley in the US, Europe and Asia as well as in
a variety of capacities in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, notably with Steve Tisch,
through his holding company Arndt Strategies. As the former Public Relations and Marketing
Manager for Care Resource, South Florida's oldest and largest HIV/AIDS services organization,
he helped produce the 2005 AIDS Walk Miami, and spearheaded the 21st annual White Party,
its week-long fund-raiser, which, at his initiative, emphasized a zero tolerance drugs policy for
the first time.
Currently, he is Co-Founder and Executive Vice President at www.MerchantAdvantage.com a
Miami-based e-commerce software company and serves on the Board of Directors of FLIMP www.
Flimp.com a Boston-based rich media, video e-mail company. He is President of Miami Dade’s
Freedom Democrats www.FreedomDems.org , was a founder and serves on the Board of Gay
American Heroes Foundation www.GayAmericanHeroes.com , was Grand Marshall for AIDS Walk
2007 in Washington, DC, and continues to raise money each year for HIV/AIDS for 9
organizations in Florida, Washington DC, and New York City at his website www.myspace.
com/chiparndt
Especially moved by the persistent stream of messages he receives from young people, Chip will
launch a personal Website for emerging LGBT youth in 2008. An information resource, it will
include stories of a variety of LGBT achievers from both history and today’s headlines, as well as
detail Chip’s own journey from a closeted teenager to an internationally known gay activist.
Devoted to helping those living with HIV/AIDS since his days living and working in New York for
Morgan Stanley in the late 1990’s, Chip earlier this year launched an ambitious $100,000
HIV/AIDS fundraising drive for 2007 which will benefit eight HIV/AIDS not-for-profit organizations
in Washington DC, New York City, and the state of Florida. The drive is called CPR to AAA =
Chip’s Personal Response to AIDS Across America. Information related to that project can be
found at www.myspace.com/chiparndt