I think they DS9 thing you’re referring to is really completely unfair.
Both characters were hosts and symbiotic beings, not human or strictly female.
ST:TNG did the whole concept of gender neutral and Riker getting involved with a neutral that was curiously identifying female which their society found disturbing that a gender male/female concept could exist.
I don’t find this whole thing outside the realm of what Star Trek has always been.
When stations in the 60’s refused to air Uhura and Kirk kissing that was more of a social taboo than anything being discussed today that we’ve had to either explain or had to explained to us.
I am still awaiting the necessity of Facebook offering 76 gender and sexuality definitions.
None have been forthcoming.
did a dirt bike run them over ?
I was in that audience and i wouldn’t express it as “softening.”
To #6. B.B. King wrote a theme song for this episode of “Deep Space 9”. It was called “The Trill Is Gone”.