This young, blonde, new kid on the queer block is Pittsburgh's hottest new heartbreaker. He's also a fine young artist, with a special gift for drawing his favorite subject...Brian Kinney. Although Justin can be a bit of a brat at times, he's also quite brave and also wise beyond his years when it comes to reading people's hearts.
As the youngest of the bunch, Justin's relationships run the gamut. Take a look.
Justin met Brian on his first trip to Liberty Avenue. The then 17-year-old didn't know the first thing about cruising or picking up guys. And he certainly knew nothing about sex...real sex. Soon Justin found himself lying to Brian about his age. In fact he lied about pretty much everything at first. He just wanted to be with Brian...whatever it took. Their first sexual encounter was one of the greatest — and most enlightening — moments of Justin's life. He knew he and Brian were meant for each other. It didn't even matter whether Brian knew it yet. Even when Brian would sleep with other people or remind Justin over and over that he, "didn't do boyfriends," Justin still persevered. He knew what he wanted. Things even got more serious when Justin got kicked out of his parents' house and had to move in with Brian. This new live-in arrangement didn't last long...thanks to Justin leaving the door open for a burglar to clean out Brian's apartment. Justin felt like he really let Brian down, and ended up running away to NYC with the intent of becoming a model or go-go boy in Chelsea. He was relieved when Brian showed up at his hotel room and dragged him back to Pittsburgh...this time to live with Debbie. But certainly Justin's favorite moment of his relationship with Brian came when Brian showed up at Justin's prom. It was a perfect night. Justin couldn't believe how great Brian looked, and how wonderful it was to dance with him in front of everyone. Despite all their difficulties, Justin knew that Brian really loved him...unfortunately the night didn't end there.
After he was gay-bashed, Justin felt totally cast aside by Brian. What he didn't
know was that Brian visited him every night in the hospital.
Thanks to Jennifer, Brian was soon back in Justin's life, helping Justin recover his memory of the bashing.
Justin liked how things were going with his relationship with Brian, but he could also see Brian felt tied down. Not wanting to lose Brian, Justin agreed to have an open relationship, but with very specific rules: No names, no numbers, no kissing...and they'll always come home to each other...by at least 3 a.m.
Justin never intended to kiss naive college boy, it just happened. He also never thought Brian would guess. What's gonna happen now that Justin broke their number one rule?
Justin likes how Brian tries to always take care of him, but Justin wants to be a man for a change...to earn money on his own. But when things fall apart with his go-go dancing job, he has to go back and ask for Brian's help. Will he ever feel like a man? Will he ever make it to the top? Well...maybe Brian is finally willing to help Justin reach both those goals!
Justin wanted Brian to do something wonderful and romantic for his birthday. Instead Brian hired a hustler for Justin's birthday...in other words...Brian was Brian. But Justin was...just dissatisfied.
Justin wanted Brian to show him real affection, to be romantic at least once. But after Brian reneges on a plan to go away with Justin for a romantic weekend in Vermont, Justin has had it. Justin goes without Brian. Maybe it's time to reevaluate their non-traditional relationship.
Justin arrives home from Vermont to find Brian having sex with someone else...as usual. But worse than this, Brian just never seems to be interested in Justin's life. Then when Justin tries to recreate Brian in Ethan's image, it only highlights the fact that Brian isn't...and never will be...Ethan. Justin feels more conflicted than ever.
Justin having just left Ethan's bed, can hardly look at Brian...until Brian once again casts his magic. Justin can't believe how much he still desires Brian...but not enough to tell Brian the truth.
Justin remained torn between Brian and Ethan until once again Brian disappointed him by being with another man. Enough was enough. Justin would always love Brian, but his love for Ethan might have a chance of becoming something real ...of becoming the romance that Justin always wanted. Justin finally walks away from Brian and into the arms of Ethan. Are Brian and Justin really finished?
Justin tells Daphne everything. They're best friends after all. Daphne was the first to know about Justin's sexuality. She even started going to the bars with him, and watched in awe as all the gay guys lusted after him. But the guys weren't the only ones lusting after Justin...Daphne, despite knowing he was queer, had feelings for Justin herself. She wanted him to be the one to take her virginity. Justin made sure it was just sex, nothing special and Daphne confirmed that "it was only sex," and they weren't boyfriend and girlfriend. But then "it" happened, and for a moment everything changed between them. Daphne tried to treat Justin as if they were dating. Justin didn't get it. Was Daphne crazy or something? Justin even talked to Lindsay about it. She explained to him that when a girl loses her virginity to a guy, it's a big thing. Still Justin just wished things would get back to normal with his old friend. Eventually, Daphne came back to her senses and she happily went to the prom with Justin...until Brian showed up to step in on their dance. Which Daphne was totally cool with.
Justin likes Michael, even though it's obvious that Michael hasn't always liked Justin. When Michael made rude comments about Justin, brushing him off, Justin was able to ignore him. It didn't matter whether Michael liked him or not. The important thing to Justin was that Michael was important to Brian. And Justin would do anything for Brian. So when Michael stopped talking to Brian after the birthday party incident, it was Justin who visited Michael and got him to be friends with Brian again.
With the exception of Brian, Justin and Michael never shared a common interest. But when Michael proposes that they expand on some sketches they drew at Babylon to create a new super hero, Justin feels a shift in his relationship with Michael. Brian is no longer the center and Justin and Michael can work together better than anyone (even they) had imagined. Justin is especially touched when Michael suggests the first comic book be about how Brian (i.e. "Rage") saves a young man from a gay bashing. Justin really likes being with Michael...and it's mutual. This could be the start of a great friendship...if Brian doesn't screw it up with his jealousy.
At first Justin thought Debbie was a freak. But after Debbie began getting more and more involved in Justin's life — talking with his mother, and pushing him to pursue his dreams — Justin soon began respecting Debbie a lot more than his own parents. And after Brian threw Justin out, Debbie even gave him Michael's old room in which to live, and soon she began treating him as if he were her own son — at one point even grounding him. Justin appreciated Debbie's caring and especially how she'd talk to his real mother about what it meant to have a gay son. He also respected how Debbie wouldn't let him give up on his dream of becoming an artist. Like when Justin gave up on the idea of art school and was going to study business in order to please his father. Justin even threw out all his old drawings. Of course Debbie dragged them right back out of the trash. She wouldn't let him ruin his life, and Justin was happy she didn't. But probably the first real test of Debbie's dedication to him came when Justin wanted to start a Gay/Straight Alliance group at his school, and they wouldn't let him. It didn't take much time for Debbie to organize a demonstration. It seems at every turn in Justin's life Debbie is there supporting him.
When he was little, Justin was always close to his mother. They would spend lots of time together, going to art museums and shopping. But as he started to get older, and started to get in touch with his queer side, he found himself pulling farther and farther away from her. He didn't think she would understand his relationship with Brian. And, at first, she didn't. Justin didn't understand that Jennifer felt she was losing him. Then Jennifer took Justin to see a therapist, hoping this would cure Justin's queerness. This infuriated Justin, and he ran away from home. But Jennifer wouldn't give up on her son, and even followed Justin to the gay bars. She tried her best to understand. And she started to make progress, especially after meeting Debbie. But then she saw Justin's drawings of Brian naked in bed, and she saw Brian touching her son, and for a little while she couldn't stand it anymore. Then, when she told Justin's father, all hell broke loose. Justin's dad tried to run Brian over, and Justin felt betrayed by Jennifer. But Jennifer still wouldn't give up. Justin felt it was his fault when Jennifer left her husband. Yet he was happy that she continued opening her heart and mind to what Justin was going through. She even started to help out with PFLAG. It seemed their closeness that they had when Justin was a child was finally rekindled.
When Justin was gay bashed, Jennifer lost it. She couldn't support Justin's involvement with Brian...until she realized it might be the only way Justin would be able to come back to being himself.
Justin met Lindsay just a few hours after she gave birth to Gus. In fact he was the one who decided on Gus's name. Justin immediately liked Lindsay, and she immediately liked him. He especially liked how Lindsay encouraged his drawing, and how she got his artwork into an art exhibition at the Gay and Lesbian center. It was one of the proudest days of his life. And whenever Justin had a fight with Brian, he often found himself sleeping on Lindsay's couch. Lindsay was also good for giving other advice too, like when Justin had the falling-out with Daphne over their one night of sex. And of course he also turns to Lindsay when he needs advice about Brian. After all, she is one of the only people Justin knows that understands what it's like to actually love the enigmatic Mr. Brian Kinney.
Justin was excited about going to the White Party with Brian, but when it came down to choosing between that and being there for Lindsay and Melanie's wedding...well Justin knew there'd be other White Parties. Besides, he knew the hottest guy at the White Party would eventually end up in his bed.
Justin pretty much hated Chris Hobbs and all the homophobic assholes at school just like him. But at the same time he had an idea that Chris may have had a secret side he wasn't showing. So when Justin found himself stuck in after-school detention with Chris, he didn't miss the opportunity to find out what was underneath Chris's macho exterior...and underneath Chris's jeans. What happened next wasn't exactly an act of love...but it satisfied Justin's curiosity and Chris's...well, lets just say he was satisfied...for a moment. Then things got ugly, and from that moment on, Chris Hobbs started harassing Justin more than ever. The worst moment being when Chris and his cohorts set fire to Justin's locker, burning all his things, including his artwork. But Justin would eventually pay Chris back...on Justin's turf. It was on Liberty Avenue when Chris picked the wrong time to say another one of his rude, homophobic insults. This time Justin shot back, revealing the "little incident" in detention. Not only did all of Liberty Avenue hear it, but also so did Chris's friends. Justin felt pretty proud of himself, but Brian alerted him to the fact that Justin had now made a real enemy. And Brian was right, since Chris Hobbs was the one wielding the baseball bat on Justin's prom night.
Justin could tell from his awkward expression that this cute college boy was a little different than the rest of the crowd at the extremely boring hetero-hop at Daphne's new apartment. More importantly he was hot! Justin wanted him, and he got him. It was the young man's first time having sex with another man and he felt nervous. Luckily Justin - having been taught by the best -- knew just how to handle it. But in doing so, Justin also broke his main rule with Brian: No kissing. Suddenly the sex felt personal. Was that a bad thing? The next day, Justin's conquest showed up at the Diner, begging to see Justin again. What if Brian found out? Justin had to stop him, so he coldly told the young man that the sex meant nothing, that he was just another trick. Crushed, the young man walked away in tears.
Justin was desperate and needed the money for school, so when Sapperstein, the
sleazy club manager, told Justin what he had to do to get the job as a go-go
dancer at Babylon...Justin did it.
Justin humors Sap. Its not that he likes the sleaze-bag — no one really likes
him, but knowing Sap does have its benefits. Sap gets Justin drugs, Sap gets
Justin a good place on the bar to dance...it's a simple case of economics,
nothing else. But when Sap insists that Justin come to a private party and he
tries to drug Justin and take advantage of him, things start to go too far.
Justin can't hide how much he really hates the slime and pops Sap one in the
kisser. Who's the sap now? Later, Sap!
The connection between Justin and Ethan was instant. Justin could barely take his eyes off the beautiful young violinist...and Ethan liked it. He didn't know Justin was involved with Brian. Unfortunately for Justin...besides being beautiful, Ethan's idea of love was exactly what Justin wanted. Ethan showed Justin how much was really lacking in his relationship with Brian.
Justin and Ethan run into each other again, and Justin realizes they both share the same goals for a relationship. Then, after yet another disappointment from Brian, Justin goes to Ethan and they make love. It's perfect...and emotionally dangerous.
Justin feels more and more attached to Ethan. After all Ethan's idea of a relationship is everything Justin ever wanted. But when Ethan expresses a wish that Justin could stay over one night, Justin knows it can't happen...at least not while he's still in love with Brian.
Ethan refuses to be second fiddle to Brian any longer and sends Justin back to the older man. But Justin soon realizes Brian will always be Brian, and this sends him back into the arms and life of Ethan. Are Justin and Brian really finished? Can Justin and Ethan really make a go of it? Stay tuned.
JUSTIN TAYLOR: The one-night stand that never went away.
Justin, the new young star on the Pittsburgh queer scene. He's a hottie with substance...and by the way, DO NOT call him a twinkie. This talented young artist is openly -- some might say hopelessly -- smitten with Brian and believes Brian loves him...whether Brian will admit it or not.
EARLIEST AMBITION: To be the next Michelangelo or Lucien Freud -- but with a six-pack of abs.
FAVORITE COLOR: Flesh.
FAVORITE MUSIC: Pop, house, trance, dance, British rock.
GUILTY PLEASURE: Day dreaming about spending his life with Brian.
BOOK OR MAGAZINE HE COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT ON A DESERT ISLAND: His sketchbook.
FAVORITE JUNK FOOD: Sweet Tarts.
THINGS HE HATES: Hates that his mom goes through his stuff. Hates that his mom asks a lot of questions. Hates that he always has to tell his mom where he is. Hates that people think he's too young. Hates the homophobia at school. Hates straight boys who mess around with him in private, but diss him in public.
FAVORITE OLD TIME TELEVISION CHARACTER: Dawson Leary ("Dawson's Creek" is an old show to Justin)
THE ONE ITEM THAT'S ALWAYS IN HIS REFRIGERATOR: Anything fattening (he's seventeen for chrissakes! He can eat anything and still be gorgeous!)
WHEN JUSTIN MET BRIAN: See Episode One of QUEER AS FOLK