25 reasons Queer as Folk is essential LGBTQIA+ viewing today
Homophobia in the world of sports
Last but certainly not least, this is a storyline that was included in the show’s last season but doesn’t make it any less important. LGBTQIA+ athletes are still few and far between, and the well-known ones are usually in sports that tend to be more accepting of them, or are already retired when they make the announcement. Homophobia is rampant in the world of sports, arguably because of the toxic masculinity that comes along with sports culture, but statistically, there have to be more gay athletes than we know of who are just scared to come out at the risk of ruining their careers or being harassed by their teammates.
On season 4, we meet star quarterback Drew Boyd of the fictional football team the Pittsburgh Ironmen. Emmett meets him when he caters Drew and his girlfriend’s engagement party. Drew and his teammates make homophobic remarks about one of the waiters as well as Emmett, but Emmett confronts him about it (because Emmett is fabulous and of course he would). Things take a wild turn when Emmett goes back to the house the next day to get his check, and the football player becomes very flirtatious. The two of them end up having sex on the living room floor.
The affair continues, but Drew refuses to label himself as gay. As their affair goes on, it’s clear that Drew’s feelings for Emmett are becoming progressively more romantic. Emmett eventually ends things, even though Drew begs him to take him back, despite his plans to marry a woman. When Drew is being threatened with being outed by a tabloid, he does a news interview where he comes out and kisses Emmett on the air, which leads to Drew losing his job on the team (but they bring him back when they can’t stop losing).
It doesn’t seem like much progress has been made in the world of sports since Queer as Folk aired, but hopefully, things are changing for the better.
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Overall Queer as Folk revolutionized pop culture with its proud and realistic portrayal of the LGBTQIA+ community, and that is why we’ll still be talking about it for years to come.
What’s your favorite moment on Queer as Folk? Let us know in the comments!