History Series / QueerAsFolkUS

* StrawManHasAPoint:
** Stockwell starts mainly going after things that are actually illegal like public sex and drugs. This changes when [[spoiler:it's revealed he covered up the murder of a young gay man.]]
** Well, closing Woody's and Babylon just because was technically illegal.
*** The rationale behind this was that the clubs were massive hubs of drug use and dealing, which while unconfirmed for Woody's, is pretty accurate for Babylon, the show even displays people routinely overdosing in the premises, including both Blake and Ted.

* TheBeard:
** Ted and Emmett at the wedding of Lindsay's sister.
** An unsuspecting Tracey when Michael wants to get a promotion in Season 1.

* BookEnds: The last shot of the series, which ended up deleted to cut down the episode's running time, showed a young {{twink}} stepping into Pittsburgh's [[{{Gayborhood}} gay nightlife]] for the first time, exactly how the series began with Justin.

** {Subverted|Trope}} by a woman whom [[spoiler:Melanie had a one-night stand with]]. She claims to not want children, and only like other people's kids... for about 10 minutes.

** [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] by a woman whom [[spoiler: Melanie had a one-night stand with]]. She claims to not want children, and only like other people's kids... for about 10 minutes.

* CharacterDevelopment

* CoolCar: Subverted in the first episode after two neighborhood kids spray paint the word “Faggot” on Brian’s car. Brian says he likes it this way.

* CoolestClubEver: Babylon.

* DerailingLoveInterests: Happens when [[spoiler: Justin's dream guy Ethan]] goes seamlessly from a romantic dream to a sleazy cheater, with no foreshadowing.
* DevotedToYou: Michael to Brian, Ted to [[spoiler: Michael]].

* TheDiseaseThatShallNotBeNamed: Averted. It is no secret that Vic, Ben, and Hunter have HIV. And although Brian initially does not want to admit it, it soon becomes common knowledge that he has [[spoiler: cancer]].

* DoubleMeaningTitle: The title comes from the old British proverb “nowt so queer as folk” but also can be read as a mispronunciation of queer as fuck.
* DownerEnding : [[spoiler: The season one finale. Justin gets gay bashed and his fate is left ambiguous, Blake basically dumps Ted who reacts badly and Michael ends up not going to Portland with David. The music that plays during the last few scenes doesn't help.]]
* DrugsAreBad:

** There’s also Ben's use of steroids and Blake's addiction. Other than those, much drug use never has consequences.
--> '''Brian:''' "Only do drugs with your friends, because they're the only ones who give a shit about you."
* EverybodyHasLotsOfSex

* GayConservative: Ted.

* HappilyAdopted: Hunter.
* HeartbrokenBadass: Brian. The first time, although he barely shows it, when Justin [[spoiler: leaves Brian for Ethan]]. The second time, Justin [[spoiler: leaves Brian because Justin wants to eventually settle down, get married and have children. Brian is a very vocal opponent of these desires and Justin decides that there is no point pursuing their relationship if it won't grow]]. Brian is much more visibly affected when this happens and even blames Michael for Justin's decision.

* HotTeacher: Ben.

-->'''Debbie:''' You think you've got everybody fooled, don't you? Well not me, honey. I've known you too long, and regrettably too well. And no matter how hard you try to deny it, I can tell you care as much about him as he cares about you. Only you haven't got the big hairy cojones to say it.
-->'''Brian:''' Oh, well maybe I could borrow yours.
-->'''Debbie:''' Well hey, whatever it takes... to admit that you love him. And I know that you do, despite all your efforts to never let another heart touch yours, and that's assuming of course that you have one; that little persistent kid has somehow gotten in under the wire. And that's what's happened, huh? Admit the truth. You love him, don't you?

* ManipulativeBastard: Brian.

* MagicalQueer: A drag queen/Psychic at Woody’s gives an eerily accurate reading of Justin’s whereabouts, Michael’s crush on Brian and relationship nerves regarding David, and Brian’s car’s tire pressure.

* MushroomSamba: Arguable. It's unclear whether Emmett was aware that the mushrooms he ate at the Fairy Retreat were hallucinogenic, and it isn't until after he accepts his fairy self and declares a fairy name, Clear Day, that he finds out that the man he spoke to who helped him come to this epiphany was not only [[spoiler: the creator of the Fairy Retreat]], but that [[spoiler: the same man died three years earlier]].

* NeatFreak: Ted

** Drew Boyd. Emmett is insistent he is gay despite the fact he says he enjoys sleeping with women and cares about his fiance. Later, when [[spoiler: he is outed and admits feelings for Emmett, he does say he is gay. The possibility that he is bisexual is never given consideration, not even the possibility that he can be romantically and sexually more attracted to men while still being attracted to women in some way as well. It is implied he has thought about men while with women though, but this comes after he is encouraged to identify as gay.]]

* OutWithABang: [[spoiler: George.]]

--> '''Ted and Emmett:''' Road Trip! Road Trip! Road Trip! Road Trip!

* TheRunaway: Hunter. Justified with his mother, who was abusive and in and out of jail. He eventually runs away from his foster parents, Michael and Ben, after it's revealed to his entire school that he has HIV and received it from his days as a gay prostitute. [[spoiler: He comes back after Michael is hurt at the "No on Prop 14" benefit bombing.]]

* {{Shirtless Scene}}:

--> '''Debbie:''' That's even better than the movie.

* {{Tall Dark And Handsome}}: Brian.

* TeamMom: Debbie.

* {{Token Lesbian}}s: Lindsay and Melanie.

* UnreliableNarrator: Justin in a few places. He initially lies about his mother's reaction to learning he's gay. And when he recounts to Debbie the way his father attacked Brian, it is notably different from the events depicted on screen. Ted and Michael {{lampshade}} this, and it raises questions about the accuracy of some of Justin's previous stories.