Doug Blasdell: Work Out's Openly Gay Role Model

AE: Like Brian's?
DB: Honestly, Brian is from North Carolina. I've spent a lot of time with him, and he's an amazing person. But he has that Southern mentality. He's turned off by people who act really gay. Which is why he doesn't care much for Jesse on the show or in general.

Brian asked me to be in his wedding. He said to me, “You're so cool. You would never think you were gay.” And I took that as a compliment because that's how I live my life. Yes, I'm openly gay, but I don't live a gay life style. I go out sometimes like to the Abbey. But I get shy. I don't really go to clubs. I don't say “girl”.

There was a part in the show that I think got cut out. We confronted Jesse about something he said to Rebecca. I started it. After, we went to the kitchen, and he followed me in. He reamed me. He said we're supposed to be on same side. We're both gay. We call each other girl. I said, “No, I never do that. I never call a guy ‘girl' or ‘ Mary'.” It's not my style. He was taken back by that.

AE: So you and Jesse don't get along?
DB: We do. We've become closer. We did The Advocate together and got close doing that. I didn't care for him the first few weeks. He was too showy. Too over the top. Too gay. He's handsome, but not my type.

But he grew on me as time went on. And by the end of the show, we were joking around sexually. It's fun. We text each other with sexual connotations. Back and forth. He found out I was single and not dating anyone, so started texting.

AE: So you're single now?
DB: When the short started, I was in a relationship. But now I'm single. I haven't had sex in a long time.

AE: So, what's your type?
DB: I go for more darker guys. I find blue-eyed, blonde guys handsome too. When I go to the Abbey, I don't always go for a type. Like this guy asked me out this weekend. He's very handsome and goes to the gym I work out. He's got blond hair. I accepted.

AE: Do you get hit on a lot at the gym?
DB: I get hit on a lot by both men and women. I had this one woman awhile ago. I was in this relationship for 14 years with a Latin guy. Anyway, this older lady took my spinning class. She brought me presents everyday--candles and all. She stalked and followed me, even after I introduced her to my boyfriend. She said she wanted to watch us together.

I've had a lot of people, men and women, especially now that I'm single, ask me out. Single is new to me. That's why seeing a therapist. I'm a very confident person in how I look. But when I go out, I get shy. My therapist is giving me these tools to help. Actually, I was watching Queer Eye the other day, and they were giving tips to a straight guy on how to pick up girls. I was sitting there taking notes, like don't cross your arms or close people off. The next night I was using them at the Abbey!