The 10th season of CBS's still-popular The Amazing Race premiered on Sunday, Sept 17th. “Diversity” seems to be the theme of Season 10. As described on Amazing Race's website, the show's twelve teams includes its “first-ever Asian-American, Indian-American and Muslim teams, plus its first amputee and open lesbian. Also included in the diverse group competing for the million dollar prize is a team of pageant winners, Miss California and Miss New York, and a pair of male models who became best friends after sharing time together in rehab.”

Gay contestants are nothing new on Amazing Race. This season the show features gay teammates Tom and Terry of New York City. Tom, 39 is a college admissions director and Terry, 45 is a special events director. Tom and Terry, who live in separate apartments, have been boyfriends for over two years.

On camera, the cheerful duo exudes what may be considered typical “dating couple” frivolities. They are at times outwardly feisty and at other times preoccupied with discussing their “relationship”. At times they even enjoy bickering with each other as a kind of entertainment for anyone watching.

Tom and Terry are hoping that their experience in The Amazing Race will help show them they have the stuff it takes to stay together and reaffirm their relationship. At the outset of the first episode, they joked to the camera that they feel “safe” in this season's Amazing Race. They claim that as the only gays, no one will be flirting with them thereby causing them any distractions.

Amazing Race contestants are not permitted to be interviewed until they have been eliminated. To get a sense of Tom and Terry, and their chance of surviving until the end, AfterElton interviewed two of Tom and Terry's closest friends.

Terry's friend is gay New York City college administrator John Myers. Tom's friend is New York City advertising agency employee Laura Guerra.

AfterElton: How long have you known Tom and Terry?
John Myers: I've known Terry for the past 6-7 years. I didn't introduce Tom and Terry to each other, but I was actually with them when they first met. We were all congregating together at the NYC GLBT Community Center and they just happened to meet each other. It was at a dance called “Date Bait” - for singles looking to meet others singles.

Laura Guerra: I've known Tom for over 7 years. He originally met my husband on the subway. They would both ride the same uptown route, every day, on their way to work. At my husband's invitation, Tom came over to one of our cocktail parties where I met him. We've all been friends ever since. Now Tom and I run together nearly every morning.

AE: Is Tom's running part of his preparation for The Amazing Race?
LG: Not at all – he runs in the New York City Marathon every year. He runs lots of road races. He's very physically active.

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