In some ways,Star Trekhas always been progressive, but it’s taken many years for the franchise to do more than just allude to its LGBTQ+ couples. Fans often speculated about what was really going on between characters like Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Kirk (William Shatner), or Bashir (Alexander Siddig) and Garak (Andrew Robinson). In fact, fandom still can’t help but think about what might’ve been.
Star Trek: The Next Generationtried its hand at a different version of an LGBTQ+ couple with William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Soren (Melinda Culea). WhileSoren eventually fell in love with Riker, it was her decision to live as a woman despite her people’s gender-neutral traditions that ended in punishment and ended her relationship with Riker. They weren’t exactly gay, but the exploration of gender identities added a queer element to their brief love affair.
RELATED:Star TrekAdds First Non-Binary and Transgender Main Characters
When Lenara Kahn (Susanna Thompson) and Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) shared a passionate kiss onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, it seemed like the franchise was finally ready to legitimize at least one LGBTQ+ couple. Instead, the series tore them apart, and it would take over 20 years for another to make their way to the forefront.
Hikaru & Ben Sulu (Kelvin Timeline Films)
BeforeStar Trekcould start doing better, though, they had to take a couple of steps back. George Takei was the gay actor who brought Hikaru Sulu to life as part of the original Enterprise crew. But none of Sulu’s partners were shown on screen until John Cho reprised the character forStar Trek: Beyond. Fans get a glimpse of his husband Ben (Doug Jung) and daughter Demora (Rihanne Quionn) at the end of the movie. George Takei described the disappointingly vague scene as Sulu “[just] hugging the baby [with an] arm around the guy … and it’s over.”
The actor had initially expressed concerns over what he considered gay tokenism, only to receive backlash for not being grateful for the representation. Considering there were rumors of a kiss that was cut out, it’s understandable that Takei unimpressed by what the movie offered. For all its claims of being progressive,Star Trek: Beyonddoesn’t even give Sulu’s and Ben’s daughter a name that confirms or denies this possible identity. Luckily,Star Trekwas just getting started with its representation of LGBTQ+ couples.
Hugh Culber & Paul Stamets (Discovery)
Fast-forward to newStar Trekshows, and the LGBTQ+ couples of the franchise are no longer just a subtle hint in the background.Star Trek: Discoverywas loud and proud when it came to Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) being gay. His casual references to his husband Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) gained context when viewers met the other man in season 1, episode 4. Not only were they the firstexplicitly LGBTQ+ couple inStar Trek, but they were also the first with a romance that wasn’t front and center in the overarching story.
Paul was the brilliant engineer-turned-spore-drive-specialist whenDiscoverydecided it need to up its science game. Hugh was a compassionate medic, flexing his therapy muscles by helping crew members manage difficult emotions. Yet, their first onscreen kiss in season 1, episode 9, was a breath of fresh air made even more remarkable by the many that followed without fanfare.Discoverynever tried to hide that Hugh and Paul were a gay couple, which is only one part of what makes them so iconic.
Raffi Musiker & Seven of Nine (Picard)
Seven (Jeri Ryan) has always been a throwback to the subtle ways thatStar Trekused to handle LGBTQ+ identities. She struggled with coming to terms with herself and eventuallyshortened her lengthy name to Sevenas a compromise between who she’d been and who she was becoming.Star Trek: Picardtook major steps in her development when she began working with Raffaela “Raffi” E. Musiker (Michelle Hurd). The two slow-burned their way into a beautifully chaotic romance, becoming the first representation of a relationship between older bisexual women inStar Trek.
It wasn’t perfect, and fans weren’t always pleased with where the show took them. They were even less happy when Raffi and Seven broke up offscreen. Still, it didn’t stop many of them from jumping for joy when the two first kissed in season 2, episode 10, “Farewell.”
What puts this LGBTQ+ couple on the list, though, has more to do with what happened afterward. Writers put Raffi and Seven together because they look good, but they also allowed them to have problems and reconciliations like anyone else. This LGBTQ+ couple didn’t last, but their impact on the story and the fans did.
Adira & Gray Tal
Transgender and gender non-conforming (GNC)Star Trekfans being able to identify with characters has been something coincidental rather than intentional – at least until now.Star Trek: Discoveryintroduced Adira (Blu Del Barrio) as the first non-binary character, and Gray (Ian Alexander) as the first openly transgender character. As if this wasn’t groundbreaking enough, the poignant romance between the two was a highlight in season 3.Their love and gender identitieswere both explicit without defining them as characters.
Adira coming out as non-binary in season 3, episode 8, was an important event because of the bravery they needed to make it happen. It was also wonderful to see Paul be so easily accepting.Discoverywas often criticized for its obsession with world-ending incidents. That a young LGTBQ+ couple could be the sweet breath of fresh air among the chaos is a revolution in and of itself, made more notable by how easily they fit into the cast. The moments of affection between Adira and Gray tugged at the heartstrings. It was apparent just much they loved each other – whether they were fighting to stay alive, or creating a sense of found family with Hugh and Paul.
Representation In Star Trek
LGBTQ+ couples have garnered some criticism simply for existing in theStar Trekuniverse. Many fans haven’t cared for the inclusion of these “gay stories” and have been very vocal about it on social media. Actor Wilson Cruz even went on Facebook to remind them that “[LGBTQ+] people aren’t going to just disappear because you put your head in the sand.”
Fortunately, moreStar Trekfans than not have been completely on board with LGBTQ+ couples leaving the closet of innuendo and suggestion. Those stories had their turn, andepisodes like “Rejoined” benefitedfrom their bravery at the time. They could have pushed the envelope a lot more, but they did what they could in an era where showing a kiss between LGBTQ+ characters was still very taboo.
These days, though,Star Trekis a lot more daring when it comes to allowing LGBTQ+ couples to be fully themselves. Beckett Mariner, for example, has her bisexual plethora of exes inLower Decks.Star Trekis finally at a stage of exploration where it can allow LGBTQ+ couples to be here, be queer, and challenge the fandom to get used to it.
