‘Queer as Folk USA’ cast announce 20th anniversary reunion and LGBTQ charity auction
The 20th anniversary reunion will raise money for LGBTQ centres during the coronavirus crisis.
By Will Stroude
20 years after the US version of Queer as Folk first premiered Stateside, the cast of the beloved TV series are set to reunite for a special reunion and charity auction to raise money for LGBTQ causes.
Stars of the hit LGBTQ series based on Russell T Davies’ groundbreaking British drama will take part in a virtual reunion on 1 May as fans are given the opportunity to bid for Queer as Folk memorabilia in an effort to fundraise for LGBTQ people affected by the coronavirus crisis.
Click play above to watch the Queer as Folk USA reunion
Scott Lowell, who played Ted Schmidt, is set to host the event, as stars including Randy Harrison (Justin Taylor), Sharon Gless (Debbie Novotny), Peter Paige (Emmett Honeycutt), Michelle Clunie (Melanie Marcus), Hal Sparks (Michael Novotny) and Robert Gant (Ben Bruckner) reunite alongside series creators Ron Cowen and Dan Lipman.
With other star appearances still to be announced, the money raised will go to Centerlink, a network of more than 250 LGBTQ centres across the US, Canada, China, Mexico, and Australia whose charitble efforts are currently focused on helping the elderly, homeless, and those with underlying health conditions.
The US version of Queer as Folk ran for five seasons from 2000-05 on Showtime following the success of the original British series, whcih starred Aiden Gillan and Charlie Hunnam.
With the action relocated from Manchester to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Queer as Folk was first hour-long US TV drama to centre on the lives of homosexual men and women, and expanded on the topics addressed in Davies’ original, which in true British fashion ran for just 10 episodes.
The Queer as Folk 20th anniversary reunion will be livestreamed on YouTube on 1 May at 11am PT/2pm ET in the US (5pm BST in the UK).