Queer As Folk has a tangled legacy. Originally a U.S. remake of the British series of the same name by Russell T. Davies, the early-2000s Showtime drama chronicled the lives of gay and lesbian folks living in Pittsburgh during the Bush era. A good chunk of the series is dated and flawed, especially the lack of diversity in casting and the wide age gap in one of the major relationships on the show. But there's no doubt that with its unflinching depictions of queer sex, drug use, and mental health, Queer As Folk broke down barriers and ushered in a new era of LGBTQIA+ representation on television.