Jesse James Keitel on the Cultural Influence of Queer as Folk

We sat down with Jesse James Keitel to talk about her role in the Peacock reboot of Queer as Folk and the lasting cultural impact of the original show. She delved into the story and the importance of separating queer joy and queer trauma. In bringing the show to a new generation, she spoke of the pressure of queer shows to represent the entire LGBTQ+ community and seeing your lived experiences on screen. The exciting part, she said, was her character’s journey through the intimacy and choice of queer parenthood, something she hopes to see explored further. Throughout the interview, Jesse emphasized the freedom and complexity of queer characters to fail, make mistakes, and be imperfect as well as wearing her identity proudly in her career.

Watch the full conversation below.

Q&A on the series Queer as Folk with actor Jesse James Keitel. Moderated by Carla Sosenko.

Brodie's confidence is shaken when he returns home to New Orleans and finds that all his friends have moved on with their lives. His best friend Ruthie and her partner Shar are navigating new family commitments. His ex, Noah, is suddenly exploring a new side of his sexuality. Even his brother Julian seems unperturbed by his nearly two-year absence. But one fateful night out at a club brings Mingus, a young aspiring drag performer, into his life, redefines his relationships and rocks the very foundations of their city's queer community.