Do you think LGBT characters will feature more prominently?

[borgboy]

I'm not really sure what the future of Trek would be like for Trans people. I have no doubt that there'd be no transphobia, and that really excellent, even perfect gender reassignment would be easily available. Beyond that, I'm not sure how that would be implemented. They could easlily make a passing reference to one of the characters having been born the biological opposite gender and had gender reassignment, but the Federation should be progressive enough that there'd be no struggles based around it.
I totally support having a trans character, but unless an actual trans actor plays the part I don't see it making much impact.

 

[Squiggy]

They could easlily make a passing reference to one of the characters having been born the biological opposite gender and had gender reassignment, but the Federation should be progressive enough that there'd be no struggles based around it.

Would there even be a point in mentioning it?

"Hi Lieutenant Sanders. I heard you were born a male. Did you get that diagnostic?"

 

[borgboy]

They could easlily make a passing reference to one of the characters having been born the biological opposite gender and had gender reassignment, but the Federation should be progressive enough that there'd be no struggles based around it.

Would there even be a point in mentioning it?

"Hi Lieutenant Sanders. I heard you were born a male. Did you get that diagnostic?"

It would be hard to work it in naturally. I suppose it would work best if it was brought up in a situation where they were dealing with an alien race that has gender prejudices or something.
Would there be a point in mentioning it? Diversity is important. Showing that trans people exist in Trek's future and that it's no longer stigmatized would mean a lot to many trans people. That's worth a lot in my opinion.
Lots of other details about character's pasts come up all the time. One way to deal with this is have an actual trans actor play the role.

 

[Ryan8bit]

Would there be a point in mentioning it? Diversity is important. Showing that trans people exist in Trek's future and that it's no longer stigmatized would mean a lot to many trans people. That's worth a lot in my opinion.
Lots of other details about character's pasts come up all the time. One way to deal with this is have an actual trans actor play the role.

Maybe I'm wrong here, but I don't think trans people want to be recognized as trans people. They just want to be recognized as male or female. A big reason we have to acknowledge it as a separate category now is because the medical technology isn't quite there yet. People who have already gone through puberty have a difficult time really passing for one of the opposite sex, and they have to pass through a lengthy, awkward transitional phase. None of that should really exist by the virtue of the technology that we've seen before in Star Trek. Having a trans actor play a trans character may also defeat that idea.

And that's why this opens a can of worms. Technology can solve that "problem." It wouldn't take much to go from that to saying that technology could make people not want to be the opposite sex in the first place, which raises a huge amount of concerns elsewhere.

 

[borgboy]

Would there be a point in mentioning it? Diversity is important. Showing that trans people exist in Trek's future and that it's no longer stigmatized would mean a lot to many trans people. That's worth a lot in my opinion.
Lots of other details about character's pasts come up all the time. One way to deal with this is have an actual trans actor play the role.

Maybe I'm wrong here, but I don't think trans people want to be recognized as trans people. They just want to be recognized as male or female. A big reason we have to acknowledge it as a separate category now is because the medical technology isn't quite there yet. People who have already gone through puberty have a difficult time really passing for one of the opposite sex, and they have to pass through a lengthy, awkward transitional phase. None of that should really exist by the virtue of the technology that we've seen before in Star Trek. Having a trans actor play a trans character may also defeat that idea.

And that's why this opens a can of worms. Technology can solve that "problem." It wouldn't take much to go from that to saying that technology could make people not want to be the opposite sex in the first place, which raises a huge amount of concerns elsewhere.

That's a good point that superior Trek medical care would make a trans person appear more cis probably.
And you bring up a point I was reluctant to address, and that is trans people may not actually be transitioning at all. Whatever makes a person be trans may be seen as a correctable birth defect. I feel pretty uncomfortable about that.

 

[Takeru]

I totally support having a trans character, but unless an actual trans actor plays the part I don't see it making much impact.

I don't want a trans character anywhere near Star Trek for one simple reason, they'd screw it up! Star Trek was never good as being progressive, they either sidestepped issues or had stupid allegories that were as subtle as a sledge hammer to the face.

If Star Trek did this there's a good chance they'd run into a planet where people change sex at age 25 and discriminate against those who don't, we then get a big speech how this guy should be allowed to keep his penis (only the aliens call it procreation snorkle or something stupid) but then it's removed anyway and the main characters make a sad face and wonder of those stupid aliens will ever be as enlightned as humans. It will be an episode in the grand tradition of the reverse discrimination worlds.

 

[borgboy]

What if a trans actor were to play an alien?
In particular I'm thinking of the dual gendered Hermat Burgoyne from the New Frontier novels. A trans actor could be effective in portraying a character that isn't from a binary gender species.

 

[Awesome Possum]

I totally support having a trans character, but unless an actual trans actor plays the part I don't see it making much impact.

I don't want a trans character anywhere near Star Trek for one simple reason, they'd screw it up! Star Trek was never good as being progressive, they either sidestepped issues or had stupid allegories that were as subtle as a sledge hammer to the face.

If Star Trek did this there's a good chance they'd run into a planet where people change sex at age 25 and discriminate against those who don't, we then get a big speech how this guy should be allowed to keep his penis (only the aliens call it procreation snorkle or something stupid) but then it's removed anyway and the main characters make a sad face and wonder of those stupid aliens will ever be as enlightned as humans. It will be an episode in the grand tradition of the reverse discrimination worlds.

Don't forget the crew discussing that it used to be an issue on Earth because Trek is usually as subtle as a brick to face.

 

[borgboy]

This is a new series, presumably with new writers and producers, and even in the relatively few years since ENT went off the air society and television have changed a lot. Especially considering this isn't going to be a broadcast network show, I'm optimistic that there will be more mature and socially relevant storytelling.

 

[hux]

If Star Trek did this there's a good chance they'd run into a planet where people change sex at age 25 and discriminate against those who don't, we then get a big speech how this guy should be allowed to keep his penis (only the aliens call it procreation snorkle or something stupid) but then it's removed anyway and the main characters make a sad face and wonder of those stupid aliens will ever be as enlightned as humans. It will be an episode in the grand tradition of the reverse discrimination worlds.

If?

They already did this with The outcast. Another cop out.

Someone earlier suggested that they took risks in TOS because they were an unknown quantity with nothing to lose. By the time TNG comes around, the franchise is huge and the conservative mindset has arrived. It's as good a theory as any.

 

[Amaris]

I totally support having a trans character, but unless an actual trans actor plays the part I don't see it making much impact.

I don't want a trans character anywhere near Star Trek for one simple reason, they'd screw it up! Star Trek was never good as being progressive, they either sidestepped issues or had stupid allegories that were as subtle as a sledge hammer to the face.

If Star Trek did this there's a good chance they'd run into a planet where people change sex at age 25 and discriminate against those who don't, we then get a big speech how this guy should be allowed to keep his penis (only the aliens call it procreation snorkle or something stupid) but then it's removed anyway and the main characters make a sad face and wonder of those stupid aliens will ever be as enlightned as humans. It will be an episode in the grand tradition of the reverse discrimination worlds.

I agree, but I also want to note that "procreation snorkel" has now entered my personal lexicon. Thank you.

 

[eyeresist]

mountable turret

 

[martok2112]

LOL!

Procreation snorkel, mountable turret.

Let's also not forget:

Docking arm.

 

[T'Girl]

One way to have a transgender on the show might be (assuming the show lasts multiple seasons) to cast a character with a actor of one gender, then near the beginning of the second or third season have them begin the transision process.

This would happen gradually over the course of the season, an ongoing background story arc, each episode the actor's makeup would change slightly.

Then for the remainder of the series run the character would have the look and demeanor of the post transision.

Physically male to female, or female to male.

 

[JohnnyTenToes]

A bit off-topic, but still staying on the issue of sexuality. How about a pedophile crew member? Could make for an interesting character, and something that hasn't been done too much.

A “bit” off-topic? Sorry, but considering the history of anti-gay idiots bringing up pedophilia in discussions about homosexuals and equating it with homosexuality, I find your question in rather bad taste. And somehow I have a hard time believing that someone could do that accidently.

I just didn't think it warranted creating it's own thread, even though off-topic. Seems like I maybe should've, sorry for derailing the thread a bit.
USS Triumphant got it and made some good points about it, though.

 

[ihno]

I don't want a trans character anywhere near Star Trek for one simple reason, they'd screw it up!

Yes, that's exactly what would happen, I agree.
As for a character changing his gender during the series I would not really care. I also don't mind having a transsexual crewmember. I don't see a need for it really but it would be okay. As long as it's not a Neelix character. But you can't make a "story arc" out of being transsexual.

I find those family stories annoying anyway. I didn't fancy Keiko and Miles issues much and don't need a gay version of it. Same goes for "the adventures of Worf as a dad".

 

[Awesome Possum]

Given the nature of modern television, the new series is probably going to spend some time treating the crew as actual human beings with emotions and relationships.

 

[eyeresist]

I find those family stories annoying anyway. I didn't fancy Keiko and Miles issues much and don't need a gay version of it. Same goes for "the adventures of Worf as a dad".

Yes. So bloody serious, and bloody dull.
.

 

[T'Girl]

I also don't mind having a transsexual crewmember. I don't see a need for it really but it would be okay.

Depends on whether you want a series that has character development, "Human" interactions, and depicts the crew having lives off duty.

Or there can be a show that's just about the mission, and the crew simply disappears when their shift is over.

But you can't make a "story arc" out of being transsexual.

Bearing in mind I think this should basically be a "B-story arc," you can made a arc out of the transition process itself, how it effects the character and those close to her (or him).

About a third of male to female transitions experience a change in their sexual orientation, which has been known to break up existing relationships.

I find those family stories annoying anyway.

I thought the family stories built around Sisko were quite good, his time with his son was the best part of DS9.

Same goes for "the adventures of Worf as a dad".

Worf was a profoundly bad father, but that was a part of the "Worf dad" arc.

 

[BillJ]

I didn't have an issue with Worf being a bad dad. I had an issue with how boring the entire arc was.