Anthony Rapp, Lt Stamets

[m.lp.ql.m]

Lt. Stamets will be the new gay character.

Gay character, or gay actor? That subtle point was never really straightened (ahem) out.

 

[Greg Cox]

Hmm, it is interesting that he's a fungus expert of all things. I wonder if there's something significant behind that, or if just means we'll be getting some scenes of him getting all excited over fungi.

Star Trek: Discovery . . Putting the "fun" back into "fungi."

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Moment's gone.

 

[DaddlerTheDalek]

Sounds like a interesting & hopeful entertaining character.

Spoiler

... trust the fungus!!!

 

[Greg Cox]

^ Moment's gone.

So is it too late to make a "Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet" joke?

I smell crossover . . .

 

[SiddFinch1]

I knew it was too late to point out that I heard he was a fun guy

 

[Philip Guyott]

I love that he's an astromycologist and his name is Lt. Stamets. Definitely a hat tip to the american mycologist Paul Stamets. Really looking forward to some mushroom science episodes. So cool!

Star Trek: "The Fungal Frontier"

 

[Sybok Was Wrong]

fungus expert?!

Haha. Gimme a break

 

[Seven of Five]

I love it. Definitely something a little different.

 

[Beagleman]

I love it. Definitely something a little different.

Absolutely. Can't go wrong with some shrooms (actually you really can).

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I wonder how they'll use that, seems a bit specialized for a main character unless well, y'know, space shrooms. Maybe he'd be like Scotty but instead of space liquors he's always trading and dealing in space shrooms.

"What is that, man?" "...it's Green!"

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

#ShroomLivesMatter

 

[Captain of the USS Averof]

Damn it Jim! I'm an astromycologist, not a…

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

"Lieutenant Stamets reporting for duty, Captain. I'm an expert on space shrooms."

"Excuse me, Lieutenant, but I ordered pepperoni and extra cheese..."

 

[Balok's Decoy]

I think astromycology could provide all kinds of interesting story opportunities. But in previous series, while everyone had a specific job, they were frequently tasked with doing other things too. He's probably going to be used as a general biology expert in addition to his mycology specialty.

 

[Borgminister]

Wonder if he could treat Phlox's toenails.

 

[TheSeeker]

Gay character, or gay actor? That subtle point was never really straightened (ahem) out.

I was wondering that myself. Where are they getting the information that Stamets will be gay? Is becasue the the actor is gay? Is he gay? I know nothing about him.

 

[Balok's Decoy]

I was wondering that myself. Where are they getting the information that Stamets will be gay? Is becasue the the actor is gay? Is he gay? I know nothing about him.

Anthony Rapp describes himself as queer, not specifically gay. I think that's the assumption people are making -- the actor is gay, so the character will be too. I think that's a bit of a leap at this point. Perhaps not an unreasonable one. I do think it's better to cast actual gay people in such roles. I think he's a great choice.

 

[Long Syntax]

Anthony Rapp describes himself as queer, not specifically gay.

Ok, I'll bite... what is the distinction between the two?

 

[Balok's Decoy]

Ok, I'll bite... what is the distinction between the two?

As a straight cis-gendered man, I am not an expert. So if someone on here who identifies as LGBTQ+ would like to contribute, please take the lead on this.

Queer is an umbrella term for people who don't ascribe to limiting boundaries of sexuality like homosexual. The spectrum of sexuality and gender identity is extremely broad, and many people don't feel comfortable with the limits of what is essentially distinctions from a heteronormative basis.

EDIT: This side-discussion is ripe for diverting into something off-topic and probably best suited for its own thread elsewhere on the board if it continues. So, just want to be mindful of that.