Non-binary & Trans Characters Added To Star Trek Discovery Cast

[Carolyn Marie]

https://www.glaad.org/blog/meet-star-trek-discoverys-blu-del-barrio

 

 

This is really awesome.  I loved the show already, but I'll love it even more.  To have a non-binary actor playing a role in a major production is outstanding!

 

Carolyn Marie

[KayC]

That is awesome! but I was hoping that a few centuries into the future there would no longer be any gender labels or issues ??

 

[Vidanjali]

I realize this is an old post, but let's see if any fellow trekies want to pick up the conversation. @Carolyn MarieI love the show too. I grew up watching Next Generation. I've seen a handful of episodes of the original series, but I just can't with the old school sci fi chauvinism (which was better in Next Gen, but definitely far from perfect - it was the late 80s / early 90s after all). One of the things I love about Discovery is that there are many awesome powerful female leads - women of color too, in particular. And yes, now there is a non-binary actor playing a non-binary character and a trans actor in the show too. (The trans actor, Ian Alexander, also plays a trans character in The OA, a show which I also thought was excellent.) @KayC indeed, you'd think that far in the future gender roles/labels wouldn't be so prevalent. Adira, the NB character, was born in the 32nd century for goodness sake! In fact, another thing that impressed me about Discovery is that characters' sexuality is never an issue in the show, that I noticed. I imagine you've seen the latest season by now, but in case you haven't, spoilers ahead. 

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The scene in which the NB character, Adira, tells Stamets that they're NB: Adira, looking troubled and uncomfortable, seems to summon up the courage to explain to Stamets that they do not like to be referred to as she/her and never thought of themselves as female. Stamets goes, "okay" and we move on. Yes, Stamets immediately accepted Adira, but why was Adira, who was born in the 32nd century, ostensibly uncomfortable confronting the issue of their pronouns, and why did they wait so long to do so? I suppose the 21st viewer is not ready to acclimate to gender diversity as a non-issue.

[Heather Nicole]

Another Trekkie here. When I was a young teenager, the premeire of Voyager introduced me to both Star Trek and science fiction in general. Since then I've discovered the brilliance of Next Gen and all the other Star Treks. I'm personally, forever a Berman/Bragga-era fan, but I do like Discovery too, and I'm looking forward to trying both Picard and Lower Decks, and also Discovery's third season (don't worry, I skipped over the spoiler part of your post). Plus, I still have The Orville for my Berman/Bragga-era fix - No joke, my car sports both Federation and "Planetary Union" bumper stickers, for realzies 

[Vidanjali]

Hi @Heather Nicole nice to meet you. I'm currently watching DS9. I never saw it as a kid, nor Voyager; I guess I stopped paying attention after Next Gen. DS9 is so good, and I plan to watch Voyager after that! I am also excited about the next seasons of Discovery and Picard. ?