Do you think LGBT characters will feature more prominently?

[Curios_Gelatin]

Personally one thing that excites me a lot is the hope to see characters of different sexualities on the new show! I know this has probably already been discussed to death but if there was one thing that nagged at me in every show was the lack of anything other than heterosexual romance.

 

[Awesome Possum]

I really think they have to at this point. Part of the legacy of the franchise was that it had a diverse crew in a time when TV was almost all white. It's really odd that Trek hasn't already had a LGBT crewmember.

 

[Borgminister]

Just do it right, a la Jessica Jones and Orphan Black, preferably Intendant-Dax style.



Seriously, just do it right--it is time. Especially if as the talking heads say they are going for modern day themes...

 

[Curios_Gelatin]

I really think they have to at this point. Part of the legacy of the franchise was that it had a diverse crew in a time when TV was almost all white. It's really odd that Trek hasn't already had a LGBT crewmember.

Right? I read Garak was supposed to be openly non-heterosexual, I think pansexual, but the writers decided not to go that way for undisclosed reasons. Probably because they didn't think it would go well with viewers.

I think if DS9 were airing now instead of then, they would probably have played up the pansexuality and made him more obviously interested in Bashir (as he was initially planned to be, supposedly). Perhaps even have had reciprocal relationship at some point!

 

[Curios_Gelatin]

Just do it right, a la Jessica Jones and Orphan Black, preferably Intendant-Dax style.



Seriously, just do it right--it is time. Especially if as the talking heads say they are going for modern day themes...

Yes!

It's probably still too much to hope for the Captain- or commanding officer, whoever they may write be 'in-charge' to not be heterosexual, but it's something I'd like to see.

 

[hux]

You would hope so.

But it would be after the horse has bolted. Trek should have been at the forefront of this and taking credit today for being one of the first shows to break new ground.

But it isn't... because it didn't. It rested on it's laurels. They were still congratulating themselves in the 90's for the first (American) interracial kiss (the one where Kirk was forced against his will to do so).

I imagine they'll probably be a gay character in the new show but so what? The Flash has a gay character and that's basically kids Saturday morning stuff.

 

[uniderth]

To be honest I would really prefer not having a gay character. Let me rephrase that I would rather not have a gay romance or relationship depicted. I can't even really stand the heterosexual relationships. Considering the statistically small portion of humanity that is actually homosexual it not surprising that they would be equally as rare on board a starship.

If the first polygamist character was an alien, then perhaps its better that the first gay character be alien too.

 

[Curios_Gelatin]

I imagine they'll probably be a gay character in the new show but so what? The Flash has a gay character and that's basically kids Saturday morning stuff.

I wouldn't call the gay character in Flash prominent, more of a side character. In fact I would go so far as to say that he is very much the 'token' gay character. I really hope they don't do this same thing in the new Trek show.

I want Star Trek to be at the fore front again too! The way to do that is to push todays modern social issues further than others do, the same way they tried to do in the TOS.

It matters because it will be something they never in the any of the previous Star Trek TV series or Movies. I know there's not really much 'new ground' to break in the modern world, but LGBT characters are still widely stereotyped or put in minor roles in media. This needs to be remedied!

 

[uniderth]

I want Star Trek to be at the fore front again too! The way to do that is to push todays modern social issues further than others do, the same way they tried to do in the TOS.

^^^ This. But pushing todays social issues doesn't have to equate to pushing the conservative/liberal agenda which is what I'm afraid having a gay character would do. Having a gay character because that's what is in/modern/hip. And then shoving the gayness in our faces. See this character is GAY and were kewl for having him/her on our show. Now what would be truly progressive is having a gay character and a character that disapproves of homosexuality. But then have them able to respectfully work side by side and have both their lifestyles/views be depicted as valid. That would be truly pushing the envelope.

The issue today is not the acceptance of homosexuality. Rather, finding a way for pro-LGBT and anti-LGBT people to be able to be respectful of one another and work together.

 

[Curios_Gelatin]

To be honest I would really prefer not having a gay character. Let me rephrase that I would rather not have a gay romance or relationship depicted. I can't even really stand the heterosexual relationships. Considering the statistically small portion of humanity that is actually homosexual it not surprising that they would be equally as rare on board a starship.

If the first polygamist character was an alien, then perhaps its better that the first gay character be alien too.

I agree sometimes the romance stories in trek are... less than stellar.

However LGBT is more than just homosexuals. It's a term than includes all sexualities. Humans are actually quite diverse, both sexually and romantically. I think it's a bit odd to think that centuries from now, we'll still be constrained to the same old societal values that make us put people into 'gay' or 'straight' boxes. Something that I think Star Trek should explore in a greater capacity.

I think making an alien a polygamist, or gay, lesbian, bisexual, ETC is just sort of a way for the audience not to feel attacked by the idea. They find it easier to accept because they regard it as something 'non human'. Something they can just dismiss as being other.

 

[Curios_Gelatin]

I want Star Trek to be at the fore front again too! The way to do that is to push todays modern social issues further than others do, the same way they tried to do in the TOS.

^^^ This. But pushing todays social issues doesn't have to equate to pushing the conservative/liberal agenda which is what I'm afraid having a gay character would do. Having a gay character because that's what is in/modern/hip. And then shoving the gayness in our faces. See this character is GAY and were kewl for having him/her on our show. Now what would be truly progressive is having a gay character and a character that disapproves of homosexuality. But then have them able to respectfully work side by side and have both their lifestyles/views be depicted as valid. That would be truly pushing the envelope.

The issue today is not the acceptance of homosexuality. Rather, finding a way for pro-LGBT and anti-LGBT people to be able to be respectful of one another and work together.

Shoving... gayness in our faces?

You know I really feel this is similar to the discussion people must have had to black people being on the show. Would it have been a better idea to have someone on the show disapproving of Uhura because her skin was a different colour?

I think you may want to rethink the way you're phrasing things.

 

[hux]

I wouldn't call the gay character in Flash prominent, more of a side character. In fact I would go so far as to say that he is very much the 'token' gay character. I really hope they don't do this same thing in the new Trek show.

But that's my point. Even shows like the Flash have token background gay characters. The days of breaking barriers are gone. I hope there is a gay character (I'd prefer transgender) but I would have preferred this to have happened years ago in one of the 90's shows. Doing it now doesn't really have the same impact. It will be good to see (and I think it probably will happen) but it wouldn't be groundbreaking. That's the shame for Trek.

The issue today is not the acceptance of homosexuality. Rather, finding a way for pro-LGBT and anti-LGBT people to be able to be respectful of one another and work together.

Why would we want to to respect anti-LGBT people?

 

[Curios_Gelatin]

The issue today is not the acceptance of homosexuality. Rather, finding a way for pro-LGBT and anti-LGBT people to be able to be respectful of one another and work together.

Why would we want to to respect anti-LGBT people?

+1

 

[Curios_Gelatin]

I wouldn't call the gay character in Flash prominent, more of a side character. In fact I would go so far as to say that he is very much the 'token' gay character. I really hope they don't do this same thing in the new Trek show.

But that's my point. Even shows like the Flash have token background gay characters. The days of breaking barriers are gone. I hope there is a gay character (I'd prefer transgender) but I would have preferred this to have happened years ago in one of the 90's shows. Doing it now doesn't really have the same impact. It will be good to see (and I think it probably will happen) but it wouldn't be groundbreaking. That's the shame for Trek.

I see your point. That does make me sad, and it is a shame. At least we'll (hopefully) be able to see the kind of Star Trek we always wanted though! I still think there is a ways to go with many social issues, so even if it didn't have the first shocking impact, it can still help along substantially.

 

[uniderth]

Why would we want to to respect anti-LGBT people?

The fact that I even need to answer this is proof that this is something our society needs.

Basically it boils down to being respectful of people even if they have views that differ from yours.

It is my understanding that Star Trek leans more towards a future where people work together despite their difference rather than people being punished for for their differences.

Would it have been a better idea to have someone on the show disapproving of Uhura because her skin was a different colour?

I think it could have been advantageous to have to show that a racist a person of a race different than them being able to work together. It's that a good message to send that: Yes, we disagree but we can still be respectful.

Perhaps have a xenophobe and an alien on the same crew.

I think show that people can be civil even when they have vast differences is incredibly more hopeful than labeling people who you(general not you specifically) disagree with as bigots or hateful and shaming them out of existence.

IDIC, tolerance, etc. can't be one sided. If we can't be tolerant of people who disagree with or even dislike us, then we really aren't being tolerant.

 

[Mudd]

You notice a distinct lack of KKK members aboard the Enterprise?

This is because absolute tolerance of every attitude and opinion is not a virtue.

If we can shame bigots out of existence let's get that done.

 

[Awesome Possum]

Why would we want to to respect anti-LGBT people?

The fact that I even need to answer this is proof that this is something our society needs.

Basically it boils down to being respectful of people even if they have views that differ from yours.

It is my understanding that Star Trek leans more towards a future where people work together despite their difference rather than people being punished for for their differences.

Would it have been a better idea to have someone on the show disapproving of Uhura because her skin was a different colour?

I think it could have been advantageous to have to show that a racist a person of a race different than them being able to work together. It's that a good message to send that: Yes, we disagree but we can still be respectful.

Perhaps have a xenophobe and an alien on the same crew.

I think show that people can be civil even when they have vast differences is incredibly more hopeful than labeling people who you(general not you specifically) disagree with as bigots or hateful and shaming them out of existence.

IDIC, tolerance, etc. can't be one sided. If we can't be tolerant of people who disagree with or even dislike us, then we really aren't being tolerant.

Maybe the anti-LGBT people can try not to be bigots, it is a choice after all.

 

[eyeresist]

The issue today is not the acceptance of homosexuality. Rather, finding a way for pro-LGBT and anti-LGBT people to be able to be respectful of one another and work together.

Let's apply the same approach to race, and have a black guy working alongside a member of the KKK. They'd be the classic odd couple!

IDIC, tolerance, etc. can't be one sided. If we can't be tolerant of people who disagree with or even dislike us, then we really aren't being tolerant.

The one thing we must not tolerate is intolerance.

 

[Awesome Possum]

How does a society where all forms of life and diversity are celebrated even produce a person who is intolerant of others? It only exists here because values are changing faster than some people want them to or because their parents taught it to them and they never questioned it. After a few decades, it becomes normal and accepted by most of the population. We still have a few bigot who can't stand interracial marriage, but they're rare and usually pretty old. In a few decades, LGBT rights will be treated the same way. That's why some people are so desperate to stop it now, they know it's a lost cause and this is their last chance.

By the time of Star Trek, it should a completely outdated concept to most people. Like how we still have Flat Earthers, but they're a punchline.

 

[Curios_Gelatin]

How does a society where all forms of life and diversity are celebrated even produce a person who is intolerant of others? It only exists here because values are changing faster than some people want them to or because their parents taught it to them and they never questioned it. After a few decades, it becomes normal and accepted by most of the population. We still have a few bigot who can't stand interracial marriage, but they're rare and usually pretty old. In a few decades, LGBT rights will be treated the same way. That's why some people are so desperate to stop it now, they know it's a lost cause and this is their last chance.

By the time of Star Trek, it should a completely outdated concept to most people. Like how we still have Flat Earthers, but they're a punchline.

Exactly!