Do you think LGBT characters will feature more prominently?

[Awesome Possum]

The FCC has no say on webseries.

Discovery is a webseries.

Safe.

The FCC doesn't care about LGBT characters. That's not the problem. The problem is busybodies who panic at the idea that gay and trans people exist. They think that you can turn gay, so if you never learn about them their children won't end up that way. There's also your standard bigot who is against us even being alive and get angry when they get reminded of it. Some of them are apparently Trek fans, which is confusing and disheartening.

But I think the show should ignore them like they ignored racists in the 60s. Their opinion does not deserve to be heard or allowed to have any influence over the show.

 

[Jinn]

They think that you can turn gay, so if you never learn about them their children won't end up that way.

So wait, if they think that people turn gay after seeing a gay character on TV shouldn't the consumer by that same weird, flawed and stupid "logic" magically become straight again, after watching a straight character?

 

[Awesome Possum]

So wait, if they think that people turn gay after seeing a gay character on TV shouldn't the consumer by that same weird, flawed and stupid "logic" magically become straight again, after watching a straight character?

There's no logic involved in this. It's a bunch of idiots confused why their kids are LGBT when they spent a lifetime dehumanizing them.

 

[borgboy]

So wait, if they think that people turn gay after seeing a gay character on TV shouldn't the consumer by that same weird, flawed and stupid "logic" magically become straight again, after watching a straight character?

Heterosexuality is apparently very fragile. Just looking at a gay character on tv can make you gay. And once you catch the gay you can never get rid of it. Even electroshock therapy doesn't work.

 

[Guy Gardener]

The FCC doesn't care about LGBT characters. That's not the problem. The problem is busybodies who panic at the idea that gay and trans people exist. They think that you can turn gay, so if you never learn about them their children won't end up that way. There's also your standard bigot who is against us even being alive and get angry when they get reminded of it. Some of them are apparently Trek fans, which is confusing and disheartening.

But I think the show should ignore them like they ignored racists in the 60s. Their opinion does not deserve to be heard or allowed to have any influence over the show.

You are right.

However, unorganized individuals have very little power to change a corporations mind.

Is there an action group we should keep an eye on, and what tools do they have to jigger a webseries that doesn't seek advertising revenue?

Whereas the existing standard subscription runs $5.99/month, subscribers can watch CBS All Access’s on-demand content, commercial-free, for $9.99/month.

Ads, really? WTF? #### you CBS!

The FCC is the law. On terrestrial TV, that's why there was never an orgy with full frontal nudity on Seinfeld.

Without the law imposing multimillion dollar fines for supposed breaches of morality and decency, the only thing telling the Networks about what to cancel and what to renew is their bottom line.

Oh.

I had a horrible thought.

If extreme religious groups are the problem, get the moderate religious groups to self-police Christianity, by adding a clause to the Netflix user contract that has them swear an oath that they are not Christian.

That sounds a little too close to Revelation, no?

 

[Awesome Possum]

You are right.

However, unorganized individuals have very little power to change a corporations mind.

Is there an action group we should keep an eye on, and what tools do they have to jigger a webseries that doesn't seek advertising revenue?

Yeah, normally. But this is CBS and their entire viewing audience will be dead in about 20 years. They're used to safe, non-threatening fluff designed to keep grandma's blood pressure from going up.

 

[DaddlerTheDalek]

Do you think LGBT characters will feature more prominently?

With todays news. Yes. Anthony Rapp's character Lt Stamets seems to be the answer.

 

[Guy Gardener]

One dude is not prominent.

Think long term.

What percentage of the gust stars annually?

%0?

%15?

%40?

Another main cast member would be good too, so that no one who gets off on labels can can say "the gay one" if there is more than one LGBT character, when talking about Stamets.

 

[DaddlerTheDalek]

I see your point.

 

[ihno]

Another main cast member would be good too, so that no one who gets off on labels can can say "the gay one" if there is more than one LGBT character, when talking about Stamets.

I would say you need at least TWO gay persons or else the gay guy would be factually asexual or browse the interstellar-net for naughty clips. I bet he's married and factually asexual anyway.

And so, the gay guy has majored in fungus? I had already suspected he might be into flowers (like in the decorative sense ) but fungus is a nice twist.

 

[m.lp.ql.m]

And so, the gay guy has majored in fungus? I had already suspected he might be into flowers (like in the decorative sense ) but fungus is a nice twist.

Well, the human phallus does have a passing resemblance to a mushroom. And mine's taken to a nice twist now and again.

 

[ihno]

I'm fainting...

But how much is a fungus-expert needed on space exploration? We never saw one on the other series but I'm sure the Discovery will meet lots of intelligent fungus conveniently, so he has lots to do - except for being No. 1's best and always understanding friend.

And if it's a serial with a big plot maybe the big bad will be a fungus?

 

[Beard_vs_Geek]

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.

We do know a character of Discovery will be openly homosexual. We have seen the discussion on Enterprise about a third sex but that's basically it. I would hope that if the character on Discovery either has a partner on board. Or at least seen corresponding with his or her partner back on earth frequently.

 

[Awesome Possum]

There's needs to be more than one gay guy on the ship. This is too little too late.

 

[Beard_vs_Geek]

There's needs to be more than one gay guy on the ship. This is too little too late.

Well unfortunately it hasn't been a priority topic when Star Trek was was on the air. George Takei even asked Gene Roddenberry about doing an episode about guy rights but it just wasn't the right time. At least this is a step in the right direction, and right now I'll take what I can get about dealing with current issues using Star Trek as an allegory.

 

[Awesome Possum]

Well unfortunately it hasn't been a priority topic when Star Trek was was on the air. George Takei even asked Gene Roddenberry about doing an episode about guy rights but it just wasn't the right time. At least this is a step in the right direction, and right now I'll take what I can get about dealing with current issues using Star Trek as an allegory.

One gay guy was bold in the 1980s. Now it's bizarrely conservative, especially for a show where one of messages is that all of humanity will work together for the betterment of the species. Given that LGBT rights is a major issue today, it would important for Trek to deal with it at last. Especially given the current political climate in the US.

 

[Tenacity]

I would hope that if the character on Discovery either has a partner on board. Or at least seen corresponding with his or her partner back on earth frequently

If the straight folks on the ship can play the field, then why not the gay ones too?

 

[ihno]

One gay guy was bold in the 1980s. Now it's bizarrely conservative, especially for a show where one of messages is that all of humanity will work together for the betterment of the species. Given that LGBT rights is a major issue today, it would important for Trek to deal with it at last. Especially given the current political climate in the US.

In the 80s like Steven Carrington? He wasn't alone, he had Ted Dinard who was murdered by Blake and then another lover who was murdered during this beautiful wedding at Monte Whatever where they all survived except Steven's gay lover... oh, I said that already.

But I don't expect too much from Discovery.

Well, maybe it will be like with Mr. Sulu and we know he's gay only from the internet and his faible for interior decorating.
Or it will be a cheesy Miles and Keiko-like marriage, which would not be my first choice.
Or it will be different relationsships or one night stands but they will never do the latter.

 

[Awesome Possum]

In the 80s like Steven Carrington? He wasn't alone, he had Ted Dinard who was murdered by Blake and then another lover who was murdered during this beautiful wedding at Monte Whatever where they all survived except Steven's gay lover... oh, I said that already.

But I don't expect too much from Discovery.

Well, maybe it will be like with Mr. Sulu and we know he's gay only from the internet and his faible for interior decorating.
Or it will be a cheesy Miles and Keiko-like marriage, which would not be my first choice.
Or it will be different relationsships or one night stands but they will never do the latter.

Have you watched a single show made in the last decade?

 

[ihno]

Have you watched a single show made in the last decade?

First of all I don't think that the new show will be very "modern" or creative.

Secondly yes, but there were good examples?
Shows from 2006 onwards? I might have missed them.

There was a lesbian at Stargate Universe, which partner was in a wheelchair at the other end of the universe. How convenient.
I see shows produced by Steven Moffat etc., where they make jokes about transsexual horses.
Also the gay stereotypes from the Flash/Arrow-verse. They are all married and presumably monogamous and copy the lifestyle of the 1950s. The straight people are not married but the gays are. And when they talk about gays it's all about the visit-rights in hospitals.
There is also this sissy character from Black Orphan, which felt very much as if he came directly from the 1930s. He's interested in whoring around and art.
And the "bisexuality" in Westworld, which showed as some "carressing the arm", which was nothing but ridiculous.

So I haven't seen much that would make me optimistic.