Queer As Folk (US) - Ben Bruckner

Ben Bruckner (Robert Gant)
Show: Queer As Folk
Year Introduced: 2005

Bio: Professor Ben Bruckner and Michael Novotny started dating after he was the first customer in Michael's new comic book store, but Michael had second thoughts after learning that Ben was HIV positive. They do eventually get back together, and remained a couple throughout the rest of the series run, even marrying in the fourth season and adopting a gay son, Hunter, in the series finale.

Gant with co-star Hal Sparks ("Michael")

Significance: Ben was one of the first fictional TV characters to really confront the reality of HIV infection. Queer As Folk was the first American TV show to portrayed gay men as fully sexualized.