The LGBTQ History of Star Trek

When Star Trek Discovery first aired 2017, it also brought with it’s first ever explicitly gay main characters. But Trek’s history with queer issues began decades earlier, both from fans and the creators.

[jazzpear]

When Odo yells into Quark's bar: "Ladies, Gentlemen, and all androgynous creatures" my heart went !!! a little bit. I have also heard a rumor that Kira and Jadzia's actors wanted them to be together, but were told no, so they played them in a way that showed chemistry even though they knew they'd never get to follow through. The first time I watched the series I was really hoping they'd get together because to me, they are clearly attracted to one another.

[literosexual]

The Jadzia kiss was such a big deal to me, it was the first female kiss I think I'd ever seen, it was a light ball moment like" holy shit I can do that?"

[amehak]

The term "slashfic" actually started with the kirk/Spock gay stories and it was actually the first one, not just "One of the first."

[waterpaper]

Loved the video! Also, there's an episode of DS9 where a female Ferengi cross-dresses as a male Ferengi. And Dax realizes the fact that the Ferengi loves Quark. Then Dax is later surprised to find out that she is female. So, she assumed the Ferengi was gay, and it wasn't anything out of the norm. It's a really subtle moment so it doesn't do much for queer representation, but those small subtle bits are very welcomed! :)
Also, McCoy called the Tribbles bisexual and that fills me up with so much fuzzy joy lol

[prinzyth]

The Culmets “dear doctor” is a Garashir reference, CHANGE MY MIND

[thedatabase]

I definitely read Jadzia as pan when I rewatched the series recently. That girl flirts with everyone, and it is beautiful. Also, I kinda liked that the women got to be openly sexual in the series without being condemned for it, felt nice to see.

[andyhan]

In the beginning of Star Trek nemesis Data grabs everyone’s attention at the wedding by saying “lady’s and gentlemen, and transgendered species” so....

[TheKitsuneCavalier]

I like the way that "Rejoined" was done. It managed to address the audience on a present day issue, within a world in which the actual subject matter should no longer be an issue. If we can't get past issues like queerphobia by the 23rd, or at lest the 24th century, then we are hopeless as a species.

[prurkxm]

Very well thought out and put together, Jessie! I remember watching “The Outcast” with my mom and knowing exactly what they were trying to convey. It was reassuring knowing my mom had empathy for the androgynous character, Soren, even though she didn’t see the alagory for LGBTQ people. :) well done!

[maxcovfefe]

I was forbidden to watch Star Trek TNG as a kid due to growing up in an evangelical Christian family. My mom took one look at Worf and declared, "you're not watching DEMONS in this house!" I decided not to upset her, so I watched it on the sly whenever I could find it when she wasn't around. I don't think my folks meant to raise me to hate anyone, but I definitely think I'd be a bit of a bigot if not for TNG showing me Roddenberry's vision.

[CaptWesStarwind]

The ending of the episode "The Outcast" had, what I always felt, the harshest and hard hitting endings of any Star Trek episode. I remember actually feeling almost sick at what Soren's people did to them at the end. Which was essentially a lobotomy/brainwashing them back to being what they considered "acceptable". Just the impact of that hit a bit harder than when Tasha is killed or when Jadzia dies. I just remember thinking that Riker would beam Soren up and have the doctor undo whatever the J'rell had done. The fact it was just left like that was just so bloody harsh. Like, "oh, you're not following the rules, so time to fiddle your brain up a bit, and the rest of y'all can just deal with it". It was the fact that it wasn't just a lost love episode, but a losing your identity because of societies expectations that really just turned my stomach a bit. One of the most tragic episodes in the entirety of Star Trek in my opinion.
Anyhow, another great video.
Peace and long life.

[kibblemom]

Great video! Like all members of the lgbt community, I have become an expert at recognizing subtext, and unfortunately, for years that's all we had in Trek. But boy did we make good use of it! Trek fandom invented "slash", which is now common in every modern fandom. Slash and long life!

[conorstapleton]

I think Voyager final episode "Endgame", would have been much better, if instead of dating Chakotay, Seven and Janeway should have started a relationship. Nothing against him (he actually got somewhat sidelined after S3) but they really had chemistry. And would have made Sevens future death and Janeways decisions so much more inpactfull.

[Picking.a.name.is.hard]

OK but the greatest failing of Star Trek was not ever making Spock/Kirk Canon. Which is completely understandable given the times and everything, but I'm still kinda sad about that. In every incarnation of Star Trek they have great chemistry and are very Shipp able.

[Cdr]

I think Lal deserves special mention for being the first explicitly trans character in the franchise even if the episode never highlighted her as such. Similar to Outcast, they used agender to female as opposed to transitioning from one of the binary genders to another (I hope I’m articulating that correctly), but nonetheless, her father very progressively allowed her to choose her gender identity and she explicitly underwent her transition onscreen, even if yes she is an android and the show never specifically highlights queer issues while also showcasing an extremely progressive and open view of gender identity, and could be argued as one of the earliest examples of normalization of such things. Again, indirect in comparison to showing a human character transition from male to female or vice versa, but nonetheless I still consider Lal to be Trek’s first trans character and that wonderful episode deserves so much credit.

It also made me cry.

Lal is a treasure.


Also every Bridge crew character in TOS was bisexual, fight me.

And Tasha is gay. she’s so gay sorry Castillo fans. It’s just true

[IFdude]

Thanks for making this video. It was wonderfully done and I'm going to share it around.

[kaelang]

from what i've read, alexander siddig and andrew robinson tried to play bashir and garak as though they were a couple, but executives vetoed and gave them less screentime together

[marcodavinci]

Such a awesome video with great research and quotes! Btw Takei has recently talked about discussions between him and Gene about adding gay themes during the orginal series but Roddenberry knew he was already pushing the envelope in so many ways and that if he tried to do it he could be shut down.

[veggieowlgirl]

Just my geek coming out: isn't the first phrase, peace and long life, followed by the response, live long and prosper?

[effoffhomeslice]

Jessie, I just want you to know this video is assigned viewing in my Race, Gender, and Sex in Sci-fi class at ASU. ❤❤❤❤❤