LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

So, I'm working on a section of my website devoted to Star Trek, which I need some help with. In particular I want a page that lists all the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered) inclusive characters and references in Trek Lit (or the games and comics, though I'm not as big into those as the others). I already have quite a few, but I'm pushing for a really complete site - and I've not read all of the Trek books, and I know there are examples in books that I've already read in the past that I didn't take the time to make note of. If anyone could help by letting me know about such characters and references and where they take place (just point me in the right direction), that would be most helpful.

I was thinking it might also be nice to have a list of OUT (of the closet) LGBT Trek authors, writers, producers actors and such. Links of interest. And maybe a list of actors that have appeared on Trek who've also played LGBT roles. That kind of thing. I already have some lists for that kind of thing, but it's very emryonic. Again, any help here would be greatly appreciated.

I understand that some fans are not into this and if that applies to you this thread isn't meant to be offensive in any way. I'd appreciate it if you didn't flame me or protest this basic request. Just respect that I'm a Star Trek fan too and this is what I'm looking for. If you find this thread upsetting then please just leave it be, move on - and by all means, have a fantastic day.

Any help here would be very appreciated! :)

Also, a BIG thank you to all those writers, authors, and anyone involved in Trek in general who pushed for LGBT inclusion in TREK of any kind, whether it be a reference, a character, or the hiring of a LGBT actor or producer - all of this helps. I'm grateful for all of this, and I know a great many other fans are as well!

Thanks! :techman:

Re: LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

Jason, I know that I've included a number of LGBT characters in my Star Trek fiction, though it may take me some effort to recollect them all. Off the top of my head, I can think of a few.

In my Lost Era novel, Serpents Among the Ruins, the female Romulan ambassador, Gell Kamemor, had a female partner named Ravent. The couple had a son. Kamemor and her family were characters I created.

In my Crucible: Kirk novel, The Star to Every Wandering, I included as a character the woman who had appeared as the captain of the U.S.S. Saratoga in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. In the novelization of the film, she had been given the surname Alexander. I added her given name and nickname, Margaret ("Madge"), and her married name, Sinclair-Alexander, in tribute to the actress who originated the role. Margaret Alexander married Cynthia Sinclair, and the two hyphenated their last names.

I also included a relationship between Krissten Richter and Etana Kol in my Mission: Gamma novel, Twilight. I think I introduced the relationship, and perhaps one of the two characters, though if I recall correctly, that relationship had been crafted for a subsequent novel; it just made dramatic sense for the romance to be shown at an earlier time in the story arc.

That's all I can think of at the moment, though I know there are others. (How come I can only recall lesbian characters right now?!?) Unfortunately, I don't know when I'll have time to search through my novels to find the others for you. Perhaps some of the readers of my work can help you in a more expeditious manner than I can.

Best of luck with the research and that section of your website.

Re: LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

^Thanks David. I wasn't aware of those characters. Very helpful!

I can't remember the details but I seem to remember something turning up in the 'Tales From the Captain Table' story you did. I've been meaning to go back and read that one. I'll get there eventually.

On a side note...

Years ago you exchanged some e-mails with me after a really brutal exchange in a Yahoo Trek Group concerning this very topic. It was very much appreciated then (I still have the messages) and your help is appreciated just as much now. Thank you so much! You rock! :techman:

Re: LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

Ranul Keru is a gay Trill.

Kent Norel in Titan is IIRC, gay too. (human)

there was a lesbian in a TNG novel called 'The Best and the Brightest'. the first one.

T'Prynn in Vanguard is a lesbian Vulcan

there's a pair of gay Klingons mentioned in IKS Gorkon. one's more accurately bisexual since he's married. (gay affair)

Re: LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

Happy to help, Jason. By the way, I just edited my original message in this thread, as I remembered another LGBT relationship.

Re: LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

oh, and a gay Vulcan appeared in New Frontier.

Re: LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

I had Kenneth Norellis, the lesbian characters from 'The Best and the Brightest' (trill Moll Enor & human Jayme Miranda), T'Prynn (and Mirror T'Prynn from David Mack's "The Sorrows of Empire" - hottest scene ever).

I didn't have the gay Klingons from IKS; what book are they in? Do you remember?

Thank you captcalhoun! :)

If you mean Selar's brother Slon, I have him too. And I believe he referenced his former partner Sotok - I made a note of that one.

The New Frontier series is extremely inclusive. One of the things I love about it is that the characters are often not assumed to be straight. Peter David gets it. And I appreciate it.

Thanks for letting me know; I might have missed out on the update. I was aware of Krissten Richter & Etana Kol from the DS9 Relaunch (though I couldn't remember what novels they appeared in) but I was under the impression that they had been introduced in a comic book? Or perhaps they were introduced in the comics and then you brought them together? I'll have to research them more. I've not actually seen the comics in question, I just have some scribbled notes about them. Thanks again for the info.
-----------------------------

Concerning the Titan character Bowan Radowski, was it just me or was it implied that Radowski was interested in Keru? I remember reading something about a look between them but it has yet to be followed up on. And actually, I don't think the character has appeared since the first 2 Titan novels, though I could be wrong.

-----------------------------
Maybe I should post the LGBT characters I already have? I'll try to organize a post for that.

Re: LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

Bart Faulwell in SCE (and his partner, Anthony Mark) is the first one that I can think of that hasn't already been mentioned. Also Sean Hawk, who was Keru's partner before his death in the movie First Contact (although his sexuality was never established in the movie, only in the TrekLitverse.)

Re: LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

^ Thank You Astraea! :)

Re: LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

Memory Beta has some good info on Etana and Richter:
http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Krissten_Ricter
http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Etana_Kol

Re: LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

In "Kobayashi Maru" a Klingon character named Krell from the Augment arc in season 4 of Enterprise is not only gay but has a very protective husband who stands by his Augment altered partner after he and Archers combat in the book.

Re: LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

Ok. Here's what I have for LGBT characters and references in Trek Lit:

Albert "Bert" Tucker & his husband Miguel from
"The Good That Men Do" by Andy Mangels & Michael A. Martin

Krell & his husband Kon’Jef from
"Kobayashi Maru" by Andy Mangels & Michael A. Martin

Thanks for the help Chemahkuu & Andy! :)

Anna Sandesjo / Lurqal from
"Vanguard: Harbinger" by David Mack

T'Prynn from
"Vanguard: Harbinger" by David Mack
"Vanguard: Summon the Thunder" by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore
"Vanguard: Reap the Whirlwind" by David Mack
"The Lost Era: The Art Of the Impossible" by Keith R.A. DeCandido
"Mission Gamma: Lesser Evil" by Robert Simpson

Thanks for the confirmation on the Mission Gamma book KRAD! :)

Mirror T'Prynn & Mirror T'Meri from
"The Sorrows of Empire" by David Mack

Margaret "Madge" & Cynthia Sinclair-Alexander from
"Crucible: The Star to Every Wandering" by David R. George III

Gell Kamemor & Ravent from
"The Lost Era: Serpents Among the Ruins" by David R. George III

Stefcia & Jameela Janosz from
The Lost Era: The Buried Age by Christopher L. Bennett

George (Harry Kim's Roomie) Brad Harrison & Noah Mannick from
Voyager: Pathways by Jeri Taylor

Thanks LightningStorm & DGCatAniSiri! :)

Just about all the girls in the Alternate Mirror Universe of
"Dark Passions" by Susan Wright

Moll Enor (Trill) & Jayme Miranda (Human) from
"The Best and the Brightest" by Susan Wright

Andrul (Cardassian) & 2 burly Terran men (unnamed) from
"MU: Shards and Shadows: The Sacred Chalice" by Rudy Josephs

Thanks Thor Damar & Christopher L. Bennett! :)

Sean Hawk (Human) from
"Star Trek: First Contact" by J.M. Dillard
"Section 31: Rogue" by Andy Mangels & Michael A. Martin

Sean is also referenced in several other stories, usually by Ranul Keru.

Ranul Keru (Unjoined Trill) from
"Section 31: Rogue" by Andy Mangels & Michael A. Martin
"Immortal Coil" by Jeffrey Lang
"Worlds of DS9: Trill: Unjoined" by Andy Mangels & Michael A. Martin
"Improvisations on the Opal Sea" by Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels
"Titan: Taking Wing" by Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels
"Titan: The Red King" by Andy Mangels & Michael A. Martin
"Titan: Orion's Hounds" by Christopher L. Bennett
"Titan: Sword of Damocles" by Geoffrey Thorne
"Destiny Book I: Gods of Night" by David Mack
"Destiny Book II: Mere Mortals" by David Mack
"Destiny Book III: Lost Souls" by David Mack
"Titan: Over a Torrent Sea" by Christopher L. Bennett

Loolooa Tereshini from
"Titan: Sword of Damocles" by Geoffrey Thorne

Thanks RedJack! :)

Bart Faulwell & Anthony Mark from
the S.C.E. series.

The Hermat character of Burgoyne from
the New Frontier series has bisexual / trans overtones.

Slon & Sotok from
"New Frontier #10: Renaissance" by Peter David

Mirror McHenry from
"New Frontier: Turnaround" by Peter David

Garak is intimated to be bisexual in
"DS9 #27: A Stitch in Time" by Andrew J. Robinson

He's never involved with any men, in fact the apparent love of his life is a woman, but Garak mentions being powerfully attracted to another male Cardassian; one of the little touches that made me love this book. Andy Robinson has also mentioned in interviews that he played him as if he were gay in his first appearance.

Kelly Eideman from
"DS9: Avatar, Book One" by S.D. Perry

Krissten Richter & Etana Kol from
the DS9 Relaunch + Marvel Comics
"Mission Gamma: Twilight" by David R. George III

Thanks for the links 'Steve Mollmann". :) I wish I could find a detailed list of their appearances.

Moq & Yojagh from
"I.K.S. Gorkon: Enemy Territory" by Keith R.A. DeCandido

I'm not sure what books these character appear in, but I'm told
Moq also appears in "Klingon Empire: A Burning House" also by KRAD.

Thanks captcalhoun! :)

Kenneth Norellis from
"Titan: Taking Wing" by Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels
"Titan: The Red King" by Andy Mangels & Michael A. Martin

Bowan Radowski from
"Titan: Taking Wing" by Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels
"Titan: The Red King" by Andy Mangels & Michael A. Martin

Ruth Grabowski & "her Jewish girlfriend" from
"TNG: Greater Than the Sum" by Christopher L. Bennett

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Apparently there's some Kirk / Spock slashy-ness in the first editon of Della Van Hise's "Killing Time" novel.

I've heard (but don't know for sure) that there are LGBT or alternate family type references in these novels: (any confirmation would be nice)

"The Entropy Effect" by Vonda N. McIntyre
"Star Trek: The Motion Picture" by Gene Roddenberry
"Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" by Vonda N. McIntyre
"Star Trek III: The Search For Spock" by Vonda N. McIntyre
"Imzadi" by Peter David
"Triangle: Imzadi II" by Peter David

I've been told there are two gay characters in the upcoming Mryiad Universe graphic novel "Star Trek: The Last Generation" - which can be preordered from Amazon.

Thanks for the correction KRAD. :)

There are great moments in the New Frontier series in which sexual identity is referenced - two I made note of while working on this project were:

"New Frontier #12: Being Human" by Peter David (page 218)
"New Frontier #13: Gods Above" by Peter David (pgs 84-85)

In the first Voyager Relaunch novel, Harry Kim is worried that Libby has moved on in his absence, and his fears are not restricted to only male competition:

"Voyager: Homecoming" by Christie Golden (page 48)

Lesbianism is discussed in "Destiny Book II: Mere Mortals" by David Mack (pgs 114-115)

And the DS9 Relaunch did a wonderful job of exploring Andorian sexuality which apparently includes levels of bisexuality (though that's probably not the best word) - I remember there being references of such things between characters Thirishar "Shar" ch'Thane & "his" bondmate Thavanichent "Anichent" th'Dani - even though these characters aren't really male, per say - they are perceived at such by most, just as Shran from Enterprise would be. It's been a while since I read those, but I remember it being handled extremely well.

I know there are more that I'm missing. I know there are some gender swapping aliens and some alternate family type aliens that are probably of note. Again - any help is appreciated. :):):)

I've been editing this list as some info comes in.

Re: LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

I'm sorry, I don't remember the name of the husband but Memory Beta may well have the information, I'll go look it up.

As for genders, Starfleet Command listed the Hydrans as having three sexes but not only were they not shown, the mention itself was brief and games are not all that canon to begin with.

The Andorian sexuality is one of the most interesting in Trek. They have Four sexes, each take part equally in the courting, relationship, sexual intercourse and even marriage. The four split into two "male" and two "female";, with only the male and female most resembling Human genders leaving their homeworld apparently, the two stranger sexes remain on Andor. This can lead to trouble maintaining a good population density, achieving a balanced and stable union of four rather than two.

Re: LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

Sorry David - Mike and I introduced the characters first in our Marvel Comics DS9 series, then transported them over via Marco to the Mission Gamma series. You wrote them first in the MG books, but they were our characters, and part of the original bible for MG. :bolian:

Re: LGBT Characters in Trek (Help and no flames Please)
 

Admiral Krell's husband was Kon’Jef, based on a very large costumer friend of mine named Jeff Cone.

The exact line in which he outs himself is in this passage:

“If you harm Krell any further,” she snarled, “you will not see another sunrise, DenobuluSngan.” She spat out the Klingon name for his race as though it were a curse.
As she moved away from him, Phlox stepped in to examine the work already being done by Kon’Jef and the other Klingon medic. The work seemed to be competent — at least so far — but Phlox feared it would leave Krell with only partial use of his hand.
“Please allow me to assure you and the admiral’s. . . wife, that I will do everything in my power to help him.”
Kon’Jef glared at him with hard, steel-gray eyes. “She’s his sister. I am his husband. And I will make certain you do nothing wrong.”
Being a Denobulan with three wives, each of whom had three spouses of her own, Phlox had no reason to find Krell’s family arrangement in any way unusual. Nodding, he reached for a microscalpel that lay on a nearby tray. “Do you have a pair of fiber-enhancers and some brighter surgical lights?” he asked the other two medical personnel. “I’d like to make certain that Admiral Krell regains full use of his arm.”