Forbidden Gay Frontier: Where Star Trek Hasn't Boldly Gone

In 1991, Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry, spoke with The Humanist magazine about his evolving view of the gay community, “My attitude toward homosexuality has changed. I came to the conclusion that I was wrong. I was never someone who hunted down 'fags' as we used to call them on the street. I would, sometimes, say something anti-homosexual off the top of my head because it was thought, in those days, to be funny. I never really deeply believed those comments, but I gave the impression of being thoughtless in these areas. I have, over many years, changed my attitude about gay men and women.”

That same year, Roddenberry spoke to The Advocate, one of the leading GLBT magazines in the country, saying there would eventually be a gay character in one of his series. “In the fifth season [of Star Trek: The Next Generation] viewers will see more of shipboard life [including] gay crew members in day-to-day circumstances.”

Gene Roddenberry died later that year. No gay character ever appeared on The Next Generation or any other Trek series or movie.

“Just to get Star Trek on TV was an astounding move,” George Takei--the openly gay actor who starred as Star Trek's Mr. Sulu--says in an interview with AfterElton. “The program execs were baffled. They did not know what to do with it! Now, we are in the 21st century, and this is speculation, but I really think that if Gene were still with us today, he would have been equally bold for our times today and addressed the issue of equality for gays, lesbians, transgenders and bisexuals.”

So, why hasn't Star Trek entered this final frontier?

Many blame Rick Berman, Star Trek's longtime executive producer. While Berman has never publicly said he has no plans in the long-term for gay characters on the show, many fans have read cryptic messages into some things he has mentioned over the years. In a 2002 interview with USAToday.com, Berman addresses the subject matter.

“That was really the wishful thinking of some people who were constantly at us,” Berman states. “But we don't see heterosexual couples holding hands on the show, so it would be somewhat dishonest of us to see two gay men or lesbians holding hands.”

But in Star Trek: Insurrection, Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis) are seen holding hands at the end of the movie. Indeed, Star Trek has often shown characters kissing and embracing. And fans have desired more than just handholding, hoping instead for a well-rounded character with as many virtues and flaws as their heterosexual counterparts.

In an exclusive interview with AfterElton, Andy Mangels--Trek's only openly gay writer, having written over a dozen Star Trek themed novels--says he believes blame lies with Berman. “I have never met Rick Berman, and he has never expressed any specific attitudes directly to me. That said, not one single actor, staff member, or Paramount employee has ever once defended him from charges of homophobia, and many have accused him of it.

"Berman was ultimately responsible for killing almost every pitch for gay characters, and in interviews, was mealy-mouthed and waffling about the need for GLBT representation. At the very least, he was gutless and didn't care about GLBT representation. From the information and evidence I've seen, heard, and read, I believe that Berman is the reason we never saw gays on Star Trek I shed no tears that he's gone, except that he did his best to ruin the franchise on his way out.”

AfterElton contacted the representatives of Rick Berman. Mr. Berman had no official response.