Let’s See More Alien Romance and Sexuality in Star Trek
The stream of extraterrestrial heteronormative couples just isn't cutting it anymore
With another Valentine’s Day nearly upon us, it seems like a good time to talk about the representation of romantic, love and mating traditions in Star Trek.
Although the franchise has occasionally examined diverse and alien forms of romance and sexuality — think of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “The Outcast,” Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s “Rejoined,” or meeting one of Phlox’s (John Billingsley) wives (Melinda Page Hamilton) in Star Trek: Enterprise’s “Stigma” — those efforts while well-intentioned often seemed furtive, as though writers and producers didn't want to “go there” too much.
It wasn’t until this current era of Star Trek, and especially Star Trek: Discovery, that we got deeper and more-sustained looks at anything approaching even a fuller range of human gender and sexuality.
The lovingly crafted and positive portrayal of the marriage of Lt Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) has been necessary and refreshing.
As has been the beautiful relationship between transgender characters Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio) and the Trill, Gray (Ian Alexander).
Meanwhile, Star Trek: Lower Decks is a touchstone for asexual folks, whether that’s Chief Engineer Andy Billups (Paul Scheer), or the loving, but purely platonic, relationship between Cerritos shipmates D'Vana Tendi (Noël Wells) and Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero).
Let me say, unapologetically, that as a queer woman of transgender experience, that representation matters, and positive portrayals of non-heterosexual characters and relationships mean so much.
And Star Trek, frankly, can do so much more — and better.
For far too long, most alien species in the franchise have been portrayed as heteronormative as our human culture has been.
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It shouldn't be this way, both from the perspective of Why would aliens have developed to be as heteronormative as humans? but also simply from a better storytelling standpoint, too.
The franchise has left way too many opportunities for compelling narratives and episodes on the table by simply ignoring what’s out there.
Imagine episodes, or even larger story arcs, that focus on the four genders of the Andorians.
Or further mine the story potential of the complex marriage structures of Denobulans.
And that’s but a couple of examples.
These stories shouldn’t even be told just for their own sakes, really.
Star Trek’s move off of broadcast TV and onto streaming gives it a much wider space to tell stories about romantic connections and sexuality in a more-honest way without becoming prurient.
In the hands of imaginative and skillful writers, Star Trek should use these them for what it does best: use science fiction and allegory to ask important questions of — and hold up a mirror on — our own relationships, mores and, of course, the human condition.
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