He took matters into his own hands to make that goal a reality. It was a personal goal to someday be on Star Trek. I was the right age for it and that led me to the original series and its iconic history. My introduction was Star Trek: The Next Generation. The Star Trek universe was very familiar to Wilson. I’m focusing on all of the overwhelmingly positive excitement the fandom has shown for us, especially from LGBTQ people and allies, young and old, some who’ve waited decades to see themselves and people like them as part of the Trek universe. It’s a big Star Trek universe and everyone has an opinion. Um, cut to Captain Kirk’s aggressive womanizing, to any alien with a big chest and even bigger hair for the entirety of the original series. Social media comments ran the gambit, declaring that sci-fi was no place to promote sexuality. Like any meaningful relationship, you must choose each other.Īnd while Star Trek’s message is that of equality in the future, there were still fans resistant to seeing a gay relationship on a starship. Out of that came the relationship I have with him today, which is to say, I finally have a real relationship with him. He reached for me and I reached for him and we agreed to have a very honest and vulnerable and authentic conversation. But when he reached out to me after watching Rickie Vasquez’s parallel journey, I knew that we had a chance. What I did not know was if he loved me enough to overcome the indoctrination we are all submitted to, culturally, about sexual orientation and gender expression. In my heart of hearts, I knew my father loved me. He was homeless just before filming My So-Called Life and could not even share the success of the show’s premiere with his family. Wilson has also been an advocate for gay youth, sharing his own experience of being kicked out of the house because of his coming out. His characters have reflected the struggle and successes of the LGBTQ community with roles in the musical RENT, Johns, Party of Five, Noah’s Arc, Party Monster, 13 Reasons Why, and his current role as Discovery’s Dr. Wilson’s career has paved the way for members of the LGBTQ community and his fight for representation in the media through his political and social activism has given voice to a new generation of storytellers. And who better to be a part of that history than Wilson Cruz, who has been a trailblazing activist and openly gay actor since his role as Rickie in My So Called Life in 1994, making him the first openly gay actor to play an openly gay character in a leading role on American television. Even as progressive as the Star Trek Universe was, it was not until the debut of Star Trek: Discovery in 2017 that we would see the first-ever featured gay characters. Civil rights issues of the ’60s were addressed under the guise of extraterrestrial conflict. Created by Gene Roddenberry, the original television series (greenlit by none other than Lucille Ball and Desilu productions) pushed the envelope by featuring women in command and a variety of minority actors, and made television history by featuring a network’s first interracial kiss. The Star Trek franchise turned 54 years old this year and the original series has spawned several television shows, feature films, animated series, and a fandom that has evolved into its own culture. "It was already a good relationship, but it's even better now!" Rapp stated, with Cruz adding that their characters "have a deeper respect for each other" in Season 4.Beyond Space: Taking Star Trek Discovery into the LGTBQ Frontier Cruz explained that Season 4 will see Culber "rely on Paul a lot more" and "allow himself to do that" while taking care of the entire crew as the Discovery's chief medical officer. Rapp and Cruz assured fans that though the show's stakes are higher than ever, Stamets and Culber will grow closer as a couple. Much of Stamets and Culber's marriage was tested throughout the first three seasons of Star Trek: Discovery, notably with Culber being killed in Season 1 and then resurrected in Season 2. "He gets tested in his abilities to science his way out of things in a major way in Season 4," Rapp stated. While Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 saw Stamets become something of a mentor and surrogate father figure for Adira, Rapp hinted that Stamets will continue to improve his relationship with Culber in Season 4. RELATED: Star Trek: Prodigy Lands an Early Season 2 Order
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