"...Turned out to an apt metaphor for the chill that has descended on American tolerance of homosexual rights since "Queer as Folk" first aired.

"Look at where the gay community was five years ago and what's happened since the (2004 presidential) election," Lipman said, citing efforts to oppose same-sex marriage, gay adoption and other issues.

The social shift has become integral to the show. This season, "we deal with the fact there has been a step back, the rights of gay people seem to be slipping and there's a backlash," Lipman said."

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