32 Gay, Bi, & Lbian Chefs Who Competed on 'Top Chef'

top chef gay contestants

From the looks of Bravo and the Food Network, gay and lbian chefs are ubiquo. But big-name LGBT oks say they're still the mory -- unrpaid and unrreprented.

Contents:

THE 10 HOTTT CONTTANTS OF "TOP CHEF"{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY LOUIS VIRTELNOVEMBER 13, 2012/3:36 PMBY LOUIS VIRTELNOVEMBER 13, 2012 / 3:36 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"THE 10 HOTTT CONTTANTS OF \"TOP CHEF\"","DATEPUBLISHED":"2012-11-13T20:36:09.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2012-11-13T20:36:09.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"LOUIS VIRTEL","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TOP CHEF IS CURRENTLY OKG RAY SEATTLE, BUT I'D LIKE TO OFFER SOME SUNNIER VISTAS: THE TEN HOTTT NTTANTS TOP CHEF HISTORY. WE'LL HAVE TO SAVE OUR TOM COLICCH/ROC DISPIRO LT FOR ANOTHER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE MEANTIME, TAKE A LOOK AT THE TEN HOTTI, GLARE OMOLY TO THEIR EY LIKE AN TRIGUED PADMA LAKSHMI, AND FIGHT WH ME THE MENTS ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE RANKED HIGHER/LOWER/NOT AT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}10. CHRIS CRARY (SEASON NE){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YOU'RE WORKG WH SOME KD OF CHARM WHEN YOU N PLACE NTH AND STILL GARNER THE FAN FAVORE AWARD, AND AS YOU N SEE, CHRIS CRARY OF TOP CHEF: TEXAS WAS WORKG WH SOME FE PECTORAL CHARMS. TOO BAD MY VISN OF THAT SEASON IS TATED BY WEIRD, VAGUELY MEAN-SEEMG GUT JUDGE PEE WEE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}9. HUNG HUNYH (SEASON THREE){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GOD, I LOVE CKS. UNABASHED, EGO-POPP' CKS. HUNG HUYNH WAS A HOTSHOT THE MUTE THAT SEASON THREE BEGAN, AND HE RO THAT HOT STREAK RIGHT TO THE FALE (WHICH WAS AIRED LIVE OM CHIGO, FOR SOME REASON). LOOK AT THAT SMIRK. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}8. MARCEL VIGNERON (SEASON TWO){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE WAS JT A B TOO BIZARRE AND WILLG TO RAP (UGH), BUT MARCEL VIGNERON'S SUPERMOL EY AND LUDWIG VON KOOPA HAIRCUT ARE TOO UNMISTAKABLE TO PASS UP {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}7. SPIKE MENLSOHN (SEASON FOUR){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE "BUTTERNUT SQUASH" FIGHT IS ONE OF THE GREAT ALLTIME MBL ON TOP CHEF, AND SPIKE ME OUT OF LOOKG AWFUL. EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT HE'S HOT, AND LET'S NOT FET {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}6. MICHAEL VOLTAGG (SEASON SIX){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A WAY, I'M SORRY TO SUBJECT EVERYONE TO MY LOVE OF CKS, BUT THERE'S A REASON THE VOLTAGG SEASON OF TOP CHEF WON THE BT REALY COMPETN SERI EMMY: THOSE GENTS WERE PELLG AS HELL, AND HOTNS HAD SOMETHG TO DO WH . WNER MICHAEL VOLTAGG'S NERVY ARM ART IS ALONE WORTHY OF A SPOT ON THIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}5. FAB VIVIANI (SEASON FOUR){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FAB SURELY RANKS AS A FAN FAVORE EVEN AMONG FAN FAVOR, AND I'M PSYCHED HE'S A PART OF LIFE AFTER TOP CHEF (ALONG WH SPIKE) BEE BRAVO NEEDS HIM TO BALANCE OUT THEIR ITALIAN-AMERIN REPRENTATN. TERA GIUDICE, YOUR PRENCE MANDAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}4. DALE LEVSKI (SEASON THREE){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE WAS GAY, ADORABLE, A RIGHTFUL ALL-STAR, A KICKASS CHIGOAN AND UNIVERSY OF IOWA ALUM (WHICH IS RELEVANT TO ME). HE WAS CHEEKY AND FUN ON BOTH HIS SEASONS, BUT I ADM I WAS NEVER MORE JEALO OF HIM THAN WHEN HE DATED PROJECT RUNWAY HUNK JACK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}3. BRYAN VOLTAGG (SEASON SIX){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ANGST G OFF OF BRYAN VOLTAGG WHEN HE LOST TO HIS BROTHER WAS PALPABLE, AND HE CHANNELED ALL THOSE TENSE, EPLY STOIC EY. HE ALSO HAPPENS TO BE MATTEL PROTOTYPE HOT, AND WHO DON'T LOVE A SOUPN OF THAT?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}2. TRE WILX (SEASON THREE){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HELL Y TO THIS GUY. HE'S A SOMEHOW MORE-MCULAR VERSN OF THE HOTTT REAL WORLD ST MEMBER OF ALL TIME, ALTON OM THE FIRST LAS VEGAS SEASON. HIS SE IS AS ENORMO AS HIS BICEPS, AND THAT'S ALWAYS A LIBIDO BATN MY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}1. SAM TALBOT (SEASON TWO){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ACCEPT NO SUBSTUT! SAM WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE FT HETEROSEXUAL CSH EVER TO GRACE BRAVO. HE WAS EVEN-KEEL, GEO, UNASSUMG, AND GGED. AND JT SO DAMN HUGGABLE? AM I MAKG THAT UP? I'M GOG WH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Conttants on last night's episo of Top Chef: Las Vegas were faced wh the challenge of okg for 'Chef of the Century Joel Robuchon. For the most part, the chefs managed to imprs agast all odds. For our gay ambassadors to the show, however, was once aga an unlucky night Vegas. Lbian nttant Ashley and gay Ash land on the bottom while Jennifer tows the le for the women. * top chef gay contestants *

Season 3 gave our first gay wner, wh Chef Hung Huynh wng the whole season.

Dale, another gay chef, also ma the fale, g send place. In season 6, Ashley spoke out about how the nttants were ma to ok for a weddg while she, and other gay nttants, uldn't legally get married. Season 11 featured gay chef Travis Masar.

'TOP CHEF MASTERS' INCLUS THREE OPENLY GAY CHEFS

* top chef gay contestants *

2003’s “Boy Meets Boy” was a datg show “wh a twist”; half the suors were straight men tryg to trick the gay bachelor to believg they were gay. “It ed to be the whe gay male was the face of LGBTQ media, and we’ve been able to see the evolutn of that through different shows, whether ’s ‘Pose’ or ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ or ‘Drag Race’ — other shows that have been able to really celebrate the rabow of people who make up the LGBTQ muny. "I fd beyond prehensn makg go do what is effectively a weddg challenge when at least three of on the challenge aren't allowed that stutn, " Merriman said, referrg to herself and two other gay nttants participatg that season.

"I am obvly very, very out and very, very gay. I want to create an environment that's gay as hell, but where you're also gettg amazg food and drks.

" Brastormg ias for queer weddgs and queer bar mzvahs ("well, maybe 's a ltle small for a bar mzvah"), Fernans entreati Kg and Akunowicz to e to Brooklyn and host "the gayt dner ever. "[It's] lerally the gayt, " she jok. Along the way they've bee visible role mols for our younger GLBT muny and have opened discsn to such gay subjects as same-sex marriage, equaly and gay acceptance.

GAY UPL MARRY 'TOP CHEF' PALM SPRGS CEREMONY

The gay chefs of Top Chef:: (clockwise om top left): Josie Smh-Malave, Dale Levski, Ashley Merriman and Dave Mart.

In Season One, who uld fet when chef Dave Mart, 40- year old gay nttant om Long Beach, California lashed out to the tense bi-sexual chef, Tiffani Faison durg one of the challeng, "I'm not your bch, Bch! " (Ah, gay pri at s bt. ) Season One also gave our first gay weddg when the two "Stts" were wed then Pre-Prop 8 San Francis, California.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* TOP CHEF GAY CONTESTANTS

'Top Chef Las Vegas': French Cookg Lands Gays on the Bottom .

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