In a new interview with magazine Rage Monthly, Gale Harold says he's grateful to have played gay in Showtime's groundbreaking drama Queer as Folk.

Queer as Folk went off the air in 2005 after five seasons. It was the first U.S. drama to offer a look at gay life in the United States. The show followed the lives of five gay men and a lesbian couple living in Pittsburgh.

The show was based on the British series of the same name created by Russell T. Davies. Queer as Folk ran for two seasons in the U.K.

Harold, who played Michael Novotny's best friend and sometimes antagonist Brian Kinney, said everyone who worked on the series was grateful for the opportunity.

A lot of young kids that I met when we were out there, were very happy and excited to have the opportunity to watch a story that was like theirs,” Harold says. “To have those tables turned and be able to find yourself or some part of yourself, your own dreams or struggles that you have gone through … we were very grateful to be a part of that.”

Harold and Jennifer Beals, who played Bette Porter for six seasons on Showtime's groundbreaking lesbian drama The L Word, were recently honored for their contributions to the LGBT experience at the Center Orange County's 2010 Gala Celebration.