Age: 17
- Kicked out of house by biological parents, lives with gay friend's mother in a supportive home
- Unique situation where main characters are all gay and present an accepting atmosphere
- faces homophobia at school, including violence
- Numerous boyfriends, sex with men and women
QAF was a groundbreaking series which, according to PlanetOut.com "made sparks fly" when it premiered in the U.K. in the late 90's and moved with a new cast to the U.S. on Showtime in 2001. An honest portrayal of the everyday lives of five gay men, a lesbian couple and their circle of support, QAF deals with subjects ranging from gay parenting to coming out and to love and sex. Despite protests against its "mature content" depicting homosexuals by religious groups, it is currently into its second season on Showtime.
Always referred to as "the newcomer" on the show, Justin decided to leave his home after his father found out he was gay and told him never to speak to him again if he would continue being gay. He moved into castmate Michael's childhood home and attends High School. He is a much more developed and featured character in this show compared to other teen parts and it is less focused on his sexuality because it is a given on the show. He is in love with the player of the show, Brian, and it is a constant question as to whether Brian will return his affections.
He has had numerous relationships and sexual encounters, including one with his best friend Daphne and another with a homophobic jock at school who is so threatened that he attacks Justin in the last episode and puts him in the hospital.
This show is different from the others I have discussed in that it is aired on a cable network rather than one of the basic channels. Therefore, relationships can be shown more explicitly without fear of censorship because it is funded and produced privately for paying viewers. It is, however, the first show to deal as overtly and frankly with the issue of homosexuality, to portray more than one central character that is gay, and the first to allow its teen character to have explicitly physical and sexual relationships with the same sex.
The only openly gay actor, besides Wilson Cruz, in the list of gay teens on TV, Randy Harrison will be making his Broadway debut this summer. Although many of the cast members of "Queer as Folk" have been involved in controversy over their sexuality, Harrison has been very open about his sexuality. QAF is his first major TV role of which he says on PlanteOut.com: "I hope that seeing a gay teen portrayed on television will be comforting and empowering to other gay teenagers." He will be playing a straight teen in the upcoming Showtime movie "
