*(Excerpt from Queer as Folk: Where Are They Now?)

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© Lorah Delaney

Oct 23, 2009

Queer as Folk, off the air since 2005, focused on a group of gay friends in Pittsburgh. The highly sexualized series easily could have left the cast members type cast.

Groundbreaking Showtime Television Series Missed by Gays Everywhere

Ben and Michael

One of the on-going meaningful storylines of Queer as Folk involved the relationship of Ben Bruckner and Michael Novotny. Bruckner, played by out actor Robert Gant, had HIV which created opportunities to discuss issues such as safe-sex and partner visitation rights in hospitals. Gant came out to The Advocate magazine in 2002 and he said, "I'm really glad that the exploration of HIV in gay culture has become such as integral part of the show, because it is and has been one of the single most galvanizing forces in the gay community." Prior to his role in Queer as Folk Gant appeared in many television shows including Friends, CSI, Ellen, The Closer and Caroline in the City. Most recently, he starred in a BBC series titled Personal Affairs

Gant, who made People Magazine's Top Bachelor list in 2005 is more than just a pretty face. He has a law degree from Georgetown University and he gives back to the gay community by supporting organizations that support the gay elderly, including Senior Advocacy for GLBT Elders of which he is the honorary spokesperson.

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