Randy Harrison: one of the folks at home
By LUKAS SZYMANEK
"It was said that he was gay in real life." I am quoting from a certain Internet biography of "Queer as Folk" star Randy Harrison. This is the opening paragraph; one sentence. In the next one we learn the year of his birth and of his professional acting experience.
It is a relatively long second paragraph, the last one in fact. In the margin, there’s a photograph of Harrison in a tight see-through T-shirt, and sparkles around his head. An idol for the gay community is born, one who is gay in his private life as well. Just like his TV character Justin is on-screen. One goes so well with the other.
Though I wanted to, I did not ask Harrison to comment on his homosexuality. I think the closest I came was when I referred to Gale Harold's Brian as a "hunk" while talking about his and Justin’s troubled relationship. I needed to take homosexuality out of any personal territory.
I can definitely see the appeal; sunny blonde highlights, eternally boyish facial features (those lips!, those cheekbones!), a slim, slightly-toned body, and not a hair on his delicate skin. But even the paltry Internet biography tells me there’s more to Harrison than his metrosexual features. And my gay friends are already willing to sell themselves into my slavery to get his phone number.
But I read further, refusing to be a gay man who stops at the first paragraph.
I much prefer the description "veteran of the stage." You must not have been wasting time cruising buff men in gay bars if you’re proclaimed that at age 27. The truth is Harrison has been acting since early in his life. He graduated with a BFA in Theater from the Cincinnati College – Conservatory of Music. He’s been in various stage productions from Shakespeare’s "Midsummer Night Dream" to "Shopping and Fucking." TV might not seem like the proper progression of an actor’s career in terms of creative ambition, but it certainly is an offer one definitely finds hard to refuse.
"Theater actors know you don’t make money on stage," Harrison admits, "I was excited about coming to TV. I feel more financially secure now."
He tries to continue doing stage work, but finds his theater career "always on halt, when you have to go to Toronto [for the "Queer as Folk" shoot].
Not that he’s under-appreciative or resentful of his television work. "It is not nearly as satisfying, but the process is just as exhausting," Harrison says. "And I love the group of people I work with."
But still, television equals quality murder, right? Well, Justin Taylor is not your typical, fake ID-possessing, man-obsessed twink. He’s a fighter and a survivor. He’s an artist.
During the first season on "Queer As Folk" we watched him win over the heart of sex god Brian Kinney ,and display great amounts of courage and confidence. Harrison has given the character not only his irresistible innocent looks, but also great charisma and sensibility that transcend his actions.
In the course of three seasons, Justin was gay-bashed at his prom, clashed with his mother over sexuality, struggled to stay in school, upheld his drawing talent and creativity, and soldiered through a grueling relationship with the older and emotionally arrested Brian with great naivety and even greater persistence.
Dare I call Justin a gay teenage role model?
"There is a lot to be learned from Justin," Harrison says, "There’s something really powerful and significant about his coming out process."
Harrison, however, cannot help but judge Justin for getting sidetracked and lost as of late. "He is 22 and finds himself stuck in the club culture. He dropped out of college and doesn’t pursue a career."
Harrison tells me that this season there will be much more drama when it comes to Justin, especially involving a story line in which his friend gets bashed but doesn’t want to press charges. Harrison says Justin becomes a vigilante. "It is a wonderfully absurd but pretty radical and interesting story line that a lot of people can relate to."
As for his love affair with Brian, Harrison remains skeptical. It was always pretty evident that Brian, throughout the relationship, needed Justin more than Justin needed him. Even though Brian financially supported the young student for a short while, emotionally, the ball was always in Justin’s court.
"I think they’re not meant to be together. There is the age difference for starters," Harrison says. "Everything that Justin and Brian have created looks a bit juvenile now, and Justin realizes that."
That's a pretty tough hit to the fans, many of who look at Justin and Brian as the gay Ross and Rachel.
"They were a central couple in the beginning," Harrison says. "But now the focus shifted towards Michael and his relationship." The "Friends" simile may not be totally out of line though. This season the couple is back together yet again.
As for Harrison, he just completed a DVD promo tour in February, and new season parties in Miami and New York. He is now done with his share of promotional obligations, and is happy to relax in his New York City home.
"It is beautiful here now. I’m beginning to defragment," he says, "I am ready to jump into my new life."
Making out with Gale Harold on a regular basis is too exhausting? I bite my tongue not to ask the question.
