Why no gay characters in Trek?

[bipolarber (deleted)]

Okay, it used to be we could all be really proud of Trek, since it was the first TV show to feature an interracial kiss, dared to crew the ship with people of color, and even tried to put a woman as second in command (Majel's "Number One" in The Cage, which was sadly cut after poor test screenings) Since then we've had some wonderful progress, with both Sisko, and Janeway being the leads of seperate Trek series.

Yet...

Why hasn't there EVER been an openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual character in Trek?

If you Google "gay lesbian bisexual Trek" you'll find a site that really runs down the long, sordid histroy of Paramount's cowardice and outright bigotry on this issue.

As Trekkers, I would think there would be wide support for this. After all, you either believe in IDIC, or you're just here to watch pretty effects of space battles.

[feedback]

It is a bit surprising that there has not been an openly gay character on any of the Trek series, especially when considering the history of breaking taboos and making social commentary within Star Trek.

If you are looking for a view as to how a gay relationship might be portrayed within the Trek universe, you might like the Hidden Frontier fan films in the Trek Passions Sci Fi video directory.

One of the lead characters is gay and his relationship is portrayed openly and honestly.

Keep in mind that the videos in our directory are (currently) displayed based on when they were added, with the most recent appearing near the top of the list...so you will need to begin watching them from the bottom of the list if you would like to see the entire series unfold in order.

Enjoy!
8)

[ninjabear]

Why are there no gay Trek characters?
Danged if I know.
Aside from that one kiss on DS:9 there hasn't been much on the subject.
I don't believe it should be a big deal, but the reason for this oversight eludes me.

I do have a grudge against George Takei, if it's true he stayed in the closet out of concern his fans would react poorly.
After all if there's one open-minded, easy-going group who tolerate if not accept differences, it's the Trekkers.

[cooky37]

`I think Trek just picked it battles. There were a couple of NG that barely scratched the Subject, and one DS9. but they used the "Alien Race" card to handle the subject. But they did not excuse the later series or movies. Sure if you ask about pilot in First Contact they say he was gay but it is not a part of the plot.
If you want a good Strong Gay lead Check out John Barrowman as Captian Jack Harkness in the BBC Series Torchwood and Doctor Who.

[ninjabear]

Well that's the glory of sci-fi; you can tackle complicated social issues in abstract settings.
Good storytelling teaches as much as it entertains---like hiding your dog's pill inside a meatball. He gets what he needs with a tasty treat, without realizing he swallowed his medicine whole.

A character who just happens to be (insert social taboo here) who turns out not to be some sort of nut, freak or pervert but for a few minor differences, an average joe/jane like the rest of us.
The big mistake too many people make is beating people over the head with the big heavy bone they wanna pick with the rest of us.
The low key will turn just about any lock---nothing's fun when it's forced and the more you demand, the more intractible I become.

[stevenlaw (deleted)]

.well said. good analogy.

[scheherazade]

SF has never been afraid to tackle issues of s----l orientation (Left Hand of Darkness, Ethan of Ethos, Darkover, and Hellblazer to name a few) going way back to the 1960's.

I really feel that s----l orientation just hasn't had a place in the stories Star Trek was trying to tell...several of the episodes that have dealt with s----l orientation have been well done. The main characters of Trek have no problems with their orientation so it would be hard to create a compelling story around it. Encountering other civilizations who do have a problem with it is the only way to include s----l mores into the plotline. I never thought the writers on Trek "copped-out" so much as couldn't create a plausible situation for a great story...

There are 10 types of people in this world...Those who know Binary, and those who don't.

[ninjabear]

Last night on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the host announced the wedding of Takei & his partner.
While I was grumbling that once again there was free cake and I missed it, Leno added that he had no problem with gay marriage, "but two Star Trek geeks? Oh, no way."

I say ---- you, Leno, but my girlfriend wants to crack his walnuts.

[twincarb]

`I have seen a few leno shows over here and as usual bear you are right.
What a small minded a£$^ole leno is, why should what people enjoy label them anyway?

P.S if your lady dose apply pressure to his( very small) walnuts post it on here so we cam all have a giggle mate

[ninjabear]

Hey Leno!
Your father was a Romulan and your mother was a targ!

What?
It's not like I'm ever going to be a guest on The Tonight Show so what the frell.

[fullmetalfantas]

`Wow, we have some pretty overly-sensitive people here, don't we? Leno is a comedian - he tells jokes for a living. Telling a joke about Star Trek doesn't make someone anti-Trek.

As for the whole "why no gays" thing? Scheherazade is correct. They showed a crew member wearing a miniskirt in the very first episode of TNG. In a script that was scrapped because it was too violent and graphic, they were going that same crew member and his lover (and fellow crewman) dealing with one of them becoming infected with a fatal disease (which Crusher promptly cures, of course). It was never stated that the script was dropped because of an anti-gay conspiracy.

TNG also had Crusher kissing another woman. The helmsman in First Contact was stated in the novelization as being gay. The examples are many fold. However, in my experience, I've found that most people, once set in their opinions, rarely pay heed to inconvenient facts that would undermine them.

Political correctness be damned. You can either force the whole world to think and act like you, or you can grow a thicker skin. Which do you think is easier?

[shannontg]

`I always thought Bashir and Garrick were implied to be Bi. Dax seemed to be a good litmus test for which characters would be into transsexuals.

I suppose being gay became far less cool when mankind met aliens and found somany other things to ----.

[willblackmon2]

`Actually there is a trek based group that delves into the same S-- areas Shannon...

head over to (removed) where you'll find a fan based series called Star Trek: Hidden Frontier, and it's spin-offs.

Great story lines, and character development are included in the package that is the series, and the spin-offs.