Michelle Clunie and Thea Gill, two cast members from the controversial Showtime series, Queer as Folk, will lead a panel discussion at 8 p.m. today in 104 Keller.

Penn State was one of six universities selected for the screening and discussion about acting, television, and gay and lesbian awareness issues.

Based on Britain's series of the same title, Queer As Folk focuses on the relationships, careers, loves and ambitions in the lives of a group of gay men and lesbians living in Pittsburgh.

The show, which premiered on Dec. 3, 2000, has garnered both controversy and critical acclaim. It was recently renewed for a second season.

Executive Producer Tony Jonas said some of the controversy that surrounds the series, which he says is a testament to cable and what it can do, lies in the fact that gay sexuality has never been dealt with before in network television.

Clunie and Gill, who play a lesbian couple on the show, will present clips from upcoming episodes, discuss their work and take questions from the audience.

The event, sponsored by the Film/Video and Media Studies departments of the College of Communications, is free.

— by Jenn Heinold