Gant: I've been dealing with this issue for years, and little by little I've been tearing down those walls. Playing Ben, for me, has gone hand in hand with my growth. The fact that Ben doesn't apologize in the way I might has caused me to apologize a hell of a lot less. Ben's strength has caused me to root for some of those things within myself.

Peter, are people surprised, when they meet you, to discover how your persona and Emmett's diverge? And I mean specifically in the arenas of masculinity and femininity.

Paige: I was an effeminate little kid, and I was raised by a feminist mother. Issues of masculinity and femininity do come up for me, though. Almost every day someone comes up to me and says, "You're that guy from Queer as Folk!
You're so much more attractive in person." That may be because I really am more attractive in person, but I don't think so. I think the real root of that comment is that I'm not a big nelly queen in life. I certainly have my feminine qualities, but I live my life with a lack of apology that is sometimes misconstrued as "masculine."

One criticism of Queer as Folk is that by showcasing a certain type of gay man -young, white, buff, handsome - it's helping to keep the community in perpetual adolescence. What would you say to that?

Paige: I'd say, "It's a television show." Seriously, I have never felt beautiful. I'm sure that when the six of us are assembled, people don't point me out. Regardless, it's a TV show. Go to Los Angeles for a week. The people who play "ugly" people on television are beautiful people. It's the nature of the beast. People want to see sexy people. I know a plus-size model who is a size 10, and they put hip pads on her to give her a size 12 ass.

Gant: I have a slightly different point of view. I think it's crucial to the story, because we, as gay men, struggle with this Adonis syndrome. I think not to include that would be a travesty. And I think what the show does - and more so in the third season - is explore that and watch some of the characters experience growth around these issues. Some of the characters can't, as in the