Posted on 09/02/2020 11:26:00 AM PDT by EdnaMode
The final frontier is continuing to bring audiences inclusive characters played by members of underrepresented communities in Hollywood. The third season of CBS All Access’ Star Trek: Discovery will introduce the first non-binary and transgender characters in Gene Roddenberry’s iconic franchise that celebrates diversity via a sci-fi lens.
Blu del Barrio will make their screen acting debut as the non-binary character Adira, who is highly intelligent with a confidence and self-assurance well beyond their years. They will find a new home on the USS Discovery and form an unexpected bond with Lt. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz)
Ian Alexander will play the transgender character Gray, empathetic, warm and eager to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a Trill host, but he will have to adapt when his life takes an unexpected turn.
“Star Trek has always made a mission of giving visibility to underrepresented communities because it believes in showing people that a future without division on the basis of race, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation is entirely within our reach,” said Michelle Paradise, co-showrunner and executive producer. “We take pride in working closely with Blu del Barrio, Ian Alexander and Nick Adams at GLAAD to create the extraordinary characters of Adira and Gray, and bring their stories to life with empathy, understanding, empowerment and joy.”
Del Barrio is a non-binary actor who uses they/them pronouns. Del Barrio was in their final year of studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art when they auditioned for the role. Del Barrio has been acting in theater and short films before making their debut in Star Trek: Discovery.
Alexander, who uses they/them and he/him pronouns, is best known for his roles as Buck Vu on Netflix’s The OA and Lev in the video game The Last of Us Part II. Alexander made history as the first out transgender Asian-American person to act on television. He is also an advocate for transgender equality, racial justice and mental health awareness for LGBTQ+ youth.
In addition to having the first-ever openly non-binary and transgender characters, Star Trek: Discovery was moving the needle with inclusivity since season one. Sonequa Martin-Green made history as the first woman of color to lead a show in the Star Trek franchise. In addition, the aforementioned Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz play the first openly gay characters who are in a same-sex marriage in the franchise.
The third season of Star Trek: Discovery will premiere October 15. New episodes of the 13-episode season will be available on-demand weekly on Thursdays.
That’s a question I don’t want answered
NOPE.
Since the producers have decided to produce politically correct garbage, I won’t be watching.
Yes, FDR’s speeches on tv back in 1928.
Ask Captain Kirk
Model 7 or 9 was a good model indeed ...
Although there were probably not any “non-binary” characters in Star Trek TOS, There were definitely some in Star Trek TNG. There was even an episode where the character played by Jonathan Frakes had an affair with an alien whose planet forbade HETEROSEXUAL relations.
Deep Space Nine had a character named “Dax” who was a male symbiote living in a very attractive female body. The captain even had a nickname for her: “Old Man”.
Star Trek Voyager had a chef/moral officer who pranced a bit, but it was never overt.
No way is anything today going to be a “FIRST” on Star Trek. It’s all been done.
A lot of the original series was pretty crappy, too. But it was iconic, memorable. What is this sh!t.
Dr. Smith on Lost in Space was maybe gay, but he was also outrageously funny, both in his deviousness and over-the-top cowardice, and his interactions with Robot. Nobody was willing to ruin that fun by wondering what he was hanging around with Young Will Robinson for, at least not until recently.
It's science fiction after all.
No more outré than hostile aliens who happen to speak English.
TOS was left wing propaganda too. Think of the half white half black Frank Gorshin episode. Very left wing and very good science fiction.
Good science fiction can be left wing, but it also has to not suck.
Used to be, gay characters had to justify their presence by being entertaining, witty, sometimes chivalrous towards the ladies because they had no sexual agenda. Now, all they do is show up and be gay, or tran, or whatever.
Star Trek Discovery, abbreviated STD.
Yeah, but they made her lezbo on Picard.
In context, the original Star Trek (TOS), while hampered by low budgets, was a fan favorite for projecting an attractive future. 1965-68 had the US trailing in the Space Race, sinking in Viet Nam, Civil Rights Marches and an ever present threat of MAD, Mutually Assured Destruction. TOS showed a future in space with a mixed race and species crew, a (presumptively) united Earth with nuclear war in the back history. It was a positive view in troubled times.
When Ms Nichols (Uhura) mulled leaving the show, no less a person than Dr King requested her to stay in that positive roll model position. She related that TOS was the only TV Show that Dr King’s children were permitted to watch past normal bedtime.
This and its successor shows and movies have thrived under that initial worldview that some have deemed too simplistic. By the time that Deep Space Nine (DS9) came along in 1993, that optimism and confidence in who the ‘good guys’ were, became far more muted in favor of a more conflicted and darker future.
Now, this iteration of Star Trek, “Discovery”, does not attract many because the original bright, expansive and optimistic future has become a delivery system of identity politics. Maybe Sulu (TOS) was ‘gay’ but it wasn’t explicit nor was there a sign hung around his neck. He was the Navigator/Helmsman first, d’Artagnan second and anything else, shrug! So old school that, when the audience could assume attributes rather than having them thrown to their faces.
Star wokeing across the universe.
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