Star Trek: Discovery will soon boldly go where no other Trek has gone before by introducing transgender and non-binary characters in its third season, a first for the long-running sci-fi franchise.
Entertainment Tonight reports that the critically-acclaimed CBS All Access series will introduce non-binary actor Blu del Barrio as Adira, and The OA actor Ian Alexander, who is trans, as Gray.
Adira is described as a “highly intelligent” character “with a confidence and self-assurance well beyond their years,” who joins the Discovery crew after befriending Lt. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) — themselves notable for being the first openly gay characters in a Trek television series.
Trans character Gray is described as “empathetic” and “warm,” and dreams of being a Trill host. In Star Trek, the Trill are a species who can form symbiotic relationships with another organism, with their personalities becoming a synthesis of the two beings — including the memories, and to some extent the personalities, of the previous hosts of the symbiont. Per ET, Gray’s hopes of becoming a host force him to “have to adapt when his life takes an unexpected turn.”
“Star Trek has always made a mission of giving visibility to underrepresented communities because it believes in showing people that a future without division on the basis of race, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation is entirely within our reach,” Michelle Paradise, co-showrunner of Discovery, told ET.
“We take pride in working closely with Blu del Barrio, Ian Alexander and Nick Adams at GLAAD to create the extraordinary characters of Adira and Gray, and bring their stories to life with empathy, understanding, empowerment and joy,” Paradise added.
In an interview with LGBTQ media advocacy organization GLAAD, Barrio called Adira “a wonderfully complex character.”
“Mainly because of this duality they have within them: they’re astonishingly intelligent and yet they’re still a kid,” Barrio said. “They experience their emotions at a heightened level, like most teenagers. That’s what makes them so fun to play.
“I like to describe them as cerebrally brilliant and emotionally a puppy,” they continued. “Adira is an introvert, but they keep a few people close to the chest, which I definitely resonate with. I don’t want to say too much and get in trouble, but all in all, Adira is a uniquely strange and beautiful character.”
Asked about Ian Alexander, Barrio said they “cannot speak highly enough of Ian. I absolutely love him, and it was so fun working alongside him.”
“Having him join the show with me was a godsend,” they continued, adding, “I was so thankful to have his support whenever I was freaking out. He’s a talented, hardworking actor, and an all-around magnificent human being, so it was a joy having him as a partner.”
Barrio said that the cast and crew of Discovery, which also includes out lesbian actor, writer, and stand-up comic Tig Notaro, “wholeheartedly accepted and validated me” when they started filming and came out as non-binary.
“They welcomed me in with open arms. When I looked like I needed help, someone would go out of their way to help me. If someone had a question about my identity, they asked it thoughtfully and kindly,” they said.
Wilson Cruz tweeted his support of the new additions to the cast, writing: “I couldn’t be more excited for or PROUD of these TWO new loves of my life if I tried. We are family! … Love you so much!”
Star Trek: Discovery is available to stream on CBS All Access in the U.S., and on Netflix globally. The 13-episode third season debuts Thursday, Oct. 15.
Harvard University has drawn criticism from conservatives after announcing that Tufts professor Kareem Khubchandani -- who performs and occasionally lectures in drag as "LaWhore Vagistan" -- will serve as a visiting associate professor in its Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality department.
The visiting professorship was established through an endowment from members of the Harvard Gender & Sexuality Caucus, the university's LGBTQ alumni group. It was created to bring in scholars focused on issues related to sexual minorities and sexuality.
Khubchandani is scheduled to teach two courses during the 2025-2026 academic year: "Queer Ethnography," in the fall semester, and "RuPaulitics: Drag, Race, and Desire" in the spring semester, focusing on the cultural influence of the show RuPaul's Drag Race.
Treven Michael Gokey was arrested by Phoenix police on September 17 for allegedly threatening to shoot up Cruisin’ 7th, a popular gay bar near his Arizona apartment. He faces felony charges of making a terroristic threat and using a computer to threaten, after blaming the LGBTQ community for recent acts of violence.
According to court documents, police were called to the 39-year-old's apartment for a welfare check after a crisis hotline reported he had threatened to shoot up the bar, claiming he was “triggered by political events.”
Christina Aguilera has partnered with Grindr as part of the promotion for her upcoming headlining set at San Francisco’s Portola Music Festival on September 20. According to a September 15 announcement from the LGBTQ app, Aguilera -- dubbed Grindr's new “wingwoman” -- will lend her voice as a notification alert, letting users know they’ve got a message from a potential match.
From September 15 to 22, Grindr will swap its iconic “bloop” notification for the opening notes of Aguilera’s 1999 No. 1 hit “Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You),” promoting her Portola performance in the process.
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