Is Star Trek homophobic?

[Paradon]

I think being gay is OK.... Is just that when you think of gay people in this country you tend to associate them with drugs and orgies! [laugh] I think that's why some kids kill themselves because that is the reason why they are ashamed of being gay, or go crazy....I mean it makes some people who are suffering from paranoia schizophrenia (more or less) go on a rampage. Gay are people are people, too..... It doesn't mean they can't control themselves. I don't mine being around gay people...just as long as they don't start having sex right in front of me! [laugh]

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

I think that's why some kids kill themselves because that is the reason why they are ashamed of being gay, or go crazy.

Kids kill themselves due to the negative reaction they face from the small-minded people in the world who can’t accept difference, and believe that all must conform to their ideals of what is “normal” (my single most hated word in the English language). I don’t know about other gay men and women in the world, but I don’t do drugs or engage in wild orgies.

I don't mine being around gay people...just as long as they don't start having sex right in front of me! [laugh]

Do you go around having heterosexual sex in front of gay people? One’s orientation has nothing to do with their activities.

I’m not saying that if/when Trek introduces a gay character onscreen they make them a raging queen, going around and hopping from bed to bed, but rather an average man/woman who is a good officer and has their own story arch to go through, and that their sexuality is just a part of their character, not a defining aspect (the same way Picard happened to be bald).

 

[Paradon]

Whether people care to admit or not, I think that's how gay people are basically portrayed in movies and television shows in this country. You go watch "Queer as Folks" and you'll know what I'm talking about.... [laugh] i think that's part of the reason why African Americans dislike gay people.

 

[T'Girl]

I don't think it was ever homophobic, but rather that the issue might become a distraction from the story lines and series.

Unless "it" is incorporated into the series, or is made a integral aspect of said story line.

Oh, C'mon People. It's the gays as I have stated before. to revel in in some self proclaimed nature that gay and lesbiasm is going to be accepted by the 23rd or even the 24rth cenury.

As I stated previously, acceptance in the Star Trek in-universe isn't a given, non-acceptance could very well be the reason (one of the reasons) that gays are not apparent. If gays are a ostracized segment of the Federation society it's unlikely we would be seeing them in Starfleet, certainly not openly.

They want to know that it is ok to be the "way" they are.

We already know it's okay to be the "way" we are. Beside it not like we have any say in the matter, we're kind of stuck with the whole gay thing.

... a raging queen, going around and hopping from bed to bed ...

In a modern / future Star Trek series, the gay character should have the same amount of on-screen romance and sex as the straight characters. The discretion that would have been understandable in older previous series concerning the depiction of sexuality really no longer applies.

 

[Forbin]

In my book "phobic" means "afraid of." So I think the word "homophobic" gets thrown around way more than it should. Bigotry against gays is bigotry, not phobia, IMHO. Call it what it is, not by a codeword.

 

[Misfit Toy]

21 pages. I don't think that this thread is going to change anyone's mind, and I think pretty much all sides have had their opinions expressed, some stronger, some not. Long time posters have noted that we've seen this thread topic many, many (many) times before, and I'm sure that we'll see it again. For now, however, this one has run it's course.