I often hear it said that there should be no gay people "holding hands" in the background in Star Trek because there are no heterosexuals holding hands. In other words, there aren't many expressions of sexuality in Star Trek. But is this really true? And I don't mean blatant sexuality, but just sexuality at all. For instance, how many examples of heterosexual couples have we seen, other than through the main characters?
Is Star Trek homophobic?
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Since the majority of Star Trek is based on military ships or military installations... people openly holding hands should be pretty much non-existent. YMMV.
I'd agree except that the entirety of TNG was based on a ship where families abounded and locations such as Ten Forward and the Holodeck existed. DS9 was similarly loaded up with civilians. Don't tell me those folks never held hands. 
Huh, strictly from a number of seasons standpoint you get-
TOS, VOY, ENT - 14
TNG, DS9 - 14
Huh, strictly from a number of seasons standpoint you get-
TOS, VOY, ENT - 14
TNG, DS9 - 14
I'd agree except that the entirety of TNG was based on a ship where families abounded and locations such as Ten Forward and the Holodeck existed. DS9 was similarly loaded up with civilians. Don't tell me those folks never held hands.
Huh, strictly from a number of seasons standpoint you get-
TOS, VOY, ENT - 14
TNG, DS9 - 14
But those families would be attached to military officers or else they wouldn't be there.
I'd agree except that the entirety of TNG was based on a ship where families abounded and locations such as Ten Forward and the Holodeck existed. DS9 was similarly loaded up with civilians. Don't tell me those folks never held hands.
Huh, strictly from a number of seasons standpoint you get-
TOS, VOY, ENT - 14
TNG, DS9 - 14
But those families would be attached to military officers or else they wouldn't be there.
Except (see other thread), it was never made explicit that Starfleet was a military. The mission of the Enterprise, at least, seemed primarily scientific.
Most people in Thailand are much more conservative than people over here in the U.S. but their cultures except homosexuals, but if homosexual people here go over there and start acting like a bunch of weirdos dancing around naked you might get some nasty remarks, and if you were a pain in the but and keep pushing the buttons, you might get your ass kicked. People over there tends to think that being good is being conservative which to them means having an open mind, being courteous, and showing a lot of gumption and not loose your temper so easily. They look up to people like that.... Americans tends to think being open minded and cool is acting crazy and having fun at other people's expense. Or is it just being cool!They think they can say whatever they want and there are no consequences; even though what they are saying does not have a shred of proof...just whatever they feel like saying at the moment. American movies tend to make fun of other countries and their cultures. They tend to think acting as an irresponsible child will proof their point and get them what they want. Which is why a lot of gays in this country are view as weirdos. In Europe it's the same way as in Thailand.... They usually have higher standard and are expected to be well behaved. Contrary to popular believe, if you go walking naked in Europe you will get arrested and people look at you like a weirdo. You might even get beat up! It's OK if you're gay, but it doesn't make you better anybody else or excuse you from doing obscene behaviors. You have restraint yourself and respect everyone no matter who you are. Gay people can act like normal people, too. This is why a lot of people are ashamed to come out. If you're gay...so what? You don't have to tell every stranger you meet.... [laugh] People can like gay people, but it doesn't mean they have to sleep with one....
Why in the hell would you bring up Thailand as an example or progress? They have a reputation of being one of the largest exploiters of child sex! Every bloody pedophile knows that Thailand is the place to go if you want to essentially rape a child.
Un-bloody-believable. Thailand...
Most people in Thailand are much more conservative than people over here in the U.S. but their cultures except homosexuals, but if homosexual people here go over there and start acting like a bunch of weirdos dancing around naked you might get some nasty remarks, and if you were a pain in the but and keep pushing the buttons, you might get your ass kicked. People over there tends to think that being good is being conservative which to them means having an open mind, being courteous, and showing a lot of gumption and not loose your temper so easily. They look up to people like that.... Americans tends to think being open minded and cool is acting crazy and having fun at other people's expense. Or is it just being cool!
Why in the hell would you bring up Thailand as an example or progress? They have a reputation of being one of the largest exploiters of child sex! Every bloody pedophile knows that Thailand is the place to go if you want to essentially rape a child.
Un-bloody-believable. Thailand...
Eh, in Ancient Greece pederasty was good sport. And they are considered the groundbreakers of democracy, literature, philosophy, arts, sports... .
I know someone that gay and he does that when he off duty in the military
Forgive me if this has already been brought up, but according to Merriam-Webster, homophobia means "irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals." In which case, I don't think the franchise qualifies.
Because what the Trek PTB feared and had an aversion to wasn't gays or homosexuality - it was a drop in the ratings or a negative reaction from advertisers.
There was a great deal of timidity regarding the portrayal of homosexuality, obviously, and that is a great shame. But that's not homophobia.
Because what the Trek PTB feared and had an aversion to wasn't gays or homosexuality - it was a drop in the ratings or a negative reaction from advertisers.
There was a great deal of timidity regarding the portrayal of homosexuality, obviously, and that is a great shame. But that's not homophobia.
Most people in Thailand are much more conservative than people over here in the U.S. but their cultures except homosexuals, but if homosexual people here go over there and start acting like a bunch of weirdos dancing around naked you might get some nasty remarks, and if you were a pain in the but and keep pushing the buttons, you might get your ass kicked. People over there tends to think that being good is being conservative which to them means having an open mind, being courteous, and showing a lot of gumption and not loose your temper so easily. They look up to people like that.... Americans tends to think being open minded and cool is acting crazy and having fun at other people's expense. Or is it just being cool!
Why in the hell would you bring up Thailand as an example or progress? They have a reputation of being one of the largest exploiters of child sex! Every bloody pedophile knows that Thailand is the place to go if you want to essentially rape a child.
Un-bloody-believable. Thailand...
Eh, in Ancient Greece pederasty was good sport. And they are considered the groundbreakers of democracy, literature, philosophy, arts, sports... .
Oh...Well then. You obviously win on that point. Pad Thai trumps child sex tourism...
As a gay man, I don't think that Star Trek was homophobic, they just got so worried about maintaining the status quo of the franchise that they didn't want to take any risks or chances, and as such it started to get a little stale in Voyager and Enterprise (IMHO).
If there is to be another series, a gay character would be nice, but the producers and creators taking risks with storylines and character development would be better.
Bry
If there is to be another series, a gay character would be nice, but the producers and creators taking risks with storylines and character development would be better.
Bry
As a heterosexual female, that's how I feel, too. I really don't think it needs a lot of fanfare or anything. Just incorporating gay characters as an ordinary part of life would work for me. They do this in many of the novels (there's a reference to one of the female Romulans in Rough Beasts of the Empire having a wife, for example), and therefore they should do so in movies - or in shows, should we ever get another one of those.
My opinion only, but I suspect by "homophobic", some of the posters mean Trek is phobic in the sense that it has an aversion to showing it on the show, in the same way phobic people have an aversion to the things they fear.
I don't think Trek is homophobic in the strict sense. Obviously there is some resistance to showing it on the show.
I don't think Trek is homophobic in the strict sense. Obviously there is some resistance to showing it on the show.
I don't think it was ever homophobic, but rather that the issue might become a distraction from the story lines and series. As interesting as it would have been to see, say, a race that was mostly homosexual with heterosexual sex only for breeding, with kids raised by homosexual couples, that might become a distraction to the Trek series. Gay rights groups might call in inaccurate representation of the movement, anti-gay groups might use it as an example of what might happen in a gay-friendly society. It all becomes a distraction off our society's issues when it was never intended to be representative of anyone or anything in the first place.
Just an unnecessary distraction, in my opinion.
Just an unnecessary distraction, in my opinion.
Eh, in Ancient Greece pederasty was good sport. And they are considered the groundbreakers of democracy, literature, philosophy, arts, sports... .
Oh...Well then. You obviously win on that point. Pad Thai trumps child sex tourism...
Western civilization got lucky because Rome spread its influence to almost all of Europe by conquering it...particularly Britain. If I'm not mistaken, the English on Britain are part Romans. The Saxon on the British Isle were already resourceful people with Roman influences it catapulted them into a dominant world power for centuries and ushered in modern era which also affected the whole globe.
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. They want to know that it is ok to be the "way" they are. That is the ONLY reason that it is brought up in FORUMS such as this one.....
Eh, in Ancient Greece pederasty was good sport. And they are considered the groundbreakers of democracy, literature, philosophy, arts, sports... .
Oh...Well then. You obviously win on that point. Pad Thai trumps child sex tourism...
I think his point was that if you judge a culture by it's worst feature then no country comes up very well. Thailand is famous for it's people being exceptionally laid-back and happy. I think denouncing all positive features of Thailand just because there is a particularly dark side to it is unfair, like someone deciding you must live in your own filth because one cockroach happens to walk into your place.
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. They want to know that it is ok to be the "way" they are. That is the ONLY reason that it is brought up in FORUMS such as this one.....
Is there something wrong with wanting to see someone of your demographic portrayed in a show set in the future, then? With wanting (not needing) that validation that in the future it -will- be considered okay to be the way you are?
It almost sounds as though you're suggesting that it isn't okay to be gay, but I'm sure I must be misinterpreting you.
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