USA Today
by Maria Montoya

March 26, 2001

WASHINGTON — Star power helped fill a lecture hall at American University on Thursday as cast members from Showtime's controversial drama Queer as Folk met their fans. A standing-room-only crowd of 250 students, professors and gay rights activists warmly greeted the actors, who are on a four-stop college tour. The cast hoped to answer fans' questions while drumming up recognition for the show. The other stops were Boston University, University of California-Berkeley and Tulane University in New Orleans. "Thirty years ago, you never would have seen anything like this," said Rodger Streitmatter, an American University professor who was moderator for the panel that included actors Hal Sparks, Michelle Clunie and Thea Gill. "It goes to show that society is coming to grips with homosexuality," Streitmatter said. While the show, which depicts the gay lifestyle among a group of friends in Pittsburgh, often dives into serious issues, many fans were content to ask lighthearted questions, such as what it's like for straight actors to kiss someone of the same sex. Some even asked the stars out on dates. Campus organizers expected a backlash from conservative groups, but there were no signs of protest during the hour-long discussion, which focused on the racy nature of the show and the effect it has had. Sparks, whose character, Michael Novotny, is still closeted, was the focus of much attention, but the two leather-clad actresses received praise from the audience for their positive portrayal of lesbian lovers. "This is about making a connection with the fans and learning about their lives," said Sparks, who also shared details about his personal life, including how his very Southern relatives feel about his playing a gay character. "It's not just about selling the show, it's about making it more personalized." Clunie and Gill told the crowd of mostly young white males that more than 50% of the show's viewers are straight women, not gay men as commonly believed. The numbers weren't at all surprising to Sandy Delauter, 39, of College Park, Md., a straight female who has been addicted to the show since she first saw the British version a couple of years ago. Jerry Higgins, 38, of Silver Spring, Md., said that despite controversy, Queer as Folk is doing an effective job of making more people care about gay people and their lives. "I only wish more people would give the show a chance," Higgins said. "It's really moving."