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Star Trek Beyond, the new Star Trek movie, will have a major character who is gay: Lt. Hikaru Sulu, played by actor John Cho.
Yeah, it’s a big deal.
I’ve been a trekkie my entire life, and out of the closet about 25 years, and Star Trek fans have long been asking for a gay lead character. Why? Because Star Trek is a vision into our better future — a future without hunger or war, where the citizens of Earth are united under one president, and 150 planets are united in one federation. (Yes, there is the occasional war with those outside the federation, but it’s always provoked by the other guys.)
The thing is, if Star Trek is supposed to epitomize the utopian future, why are there no gay or trans people?
Star Trek’s Lt. Sulu, actor George Takei, is himself openly-gay.
You have to remember that Star Trek began its voyage in 1966 as a cutting edge civil rights statement. Included among the bridge crew was a black woman, Lt. Nyota Uhura, played by actress Nichelle Nichols. Not only was it a big deal having an African-American woman as one of the lead characters on a TV show in the 1960s, but this character’s role put her on equal footing with the otherwise white and Asian bridge crew. Star Trek even included a mixed-race kiss in the show! Again, it was a big deal at the time. (Even though the kiss was coerced by alien mind control.)
Just how big a deal to civil rights in America was Nichols’ role? Ask Martin Luther King. Nichols gave an interview to NPR a while back in which she explained her decision to leave the show after the first season. When Martin Luther King found out about it, he had a few words with Nichols:
Ms. NICHOLS: I went in to tell Gene Roddenberry that I was leaving after the first season, and he was very upset about it. And he said, take the weekend and think about what I am trying to achieve here in this show. You’re an integral part and very important to it. And so I said, yes, I would. And that – on Saturday night, I went to an NAACP fundraiser, I believe it was, in Beverly Hills. And one of the promoters came over to me and said, Ms. Nichols, there’s someone who would like to meet you. He says he is your greatest fan.
Captain Kirk and Lt. Uhura kiss on Star Trek.
And I’m thinking a Trekker, you know. And I turn, and before I could get up, I looked across the way and there was the face of Dr. Martin Luther King smiling at me and walking toward me. And he started laughing. By the time he reached me, he said, yes, Ms. Nichols, I am your greatest fan. I am that Trekkie.
(Soundbite of laughter)
Ms. NICHOLS: And I was speechless. He complimented me on the manner in which I’d created the character. I thanked him, and I think I said something like, Dr. King, I wish I could be out there marching with you. He said, no, no, no. No, you don’t understand. We don’t need you on the – to march. You are marching. You are reflecting what we are fighting for. So, I said to him, thank you so much. And I’m going to miss my co-stars.
And his face got very, very serious. And he said, what are you talking about? And I said, well, I told Gene just yesterday that I’m going to leave the show after the first year because I’ve been offered – and he stopped me and said: You cannot do that. And I was stunned. He said, don’t you understand what this man has achieved? For the first time, we are being seen the world over as we should be seen. He says, do you understand that this is the only show that my wife Coretta and I will allow our little children to stay up and watch. I was speechless.
Actor John Chu playing Star Trek’s Lt. Sulu.
And it’s no different for gay and trans people. The reason we’re so insistent about people coming out, declaring their sexual orientation or gender identity publicly, and about making sure we’re represented on TV and in the movies, is because every time we are seen publicly we become that much more free. Perhaps you’re a young gay or trans person who knows they’re gay or trans, isn’t open about it, hasn’t told their family or friends, and knows no one like themselves. Sometimes the gay or trans character on TV is all they’ve got to relate to, to show them that they’re not alone, to show them that they really are “normal.” To show them that there’s life outside the closet, and thus, life is worth living.
And these depictions also help people who aren’t gay or trans. Familiarity breeds ennui, and that’s a good thing. The more people see gay or trans characters on TV shows and in the movies, the more it becomes normal, expected, and eventually boring. The day “gay” and “trans” goes from shocking to “whatever” is the day we truly win.
This is why LGBT people are so insistent about Star Trek representing the true diversity of the universe.
And finally, what a wonderful tribute to the original Mr. Sulu, George Takei. The openly-gay actor has been an outspoken advocate for LGBT, and all human rights. I suspect no one is more pleased that Mr. Sulu finally gets his toaster. (h/t Joe My God)
Follow me on Twitter: @aravosis — Win a pony! (not really)
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