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Star Trek: Discovery to introduce franchise’s first transgender, nonbinary characters

By Dan Selcke

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: Ian Alexander attends THE OA PART II at Bing Theatre At LACMA on March 19, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: Ian Alexander attends THE OA PART II at Bing Theatre At LACMA on March 19, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix) /
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Blu del Barrio and The OA veteran Ian Alexander will play the first nonbinary and transgender characters in the history of Star Trek.

It’s high times for Star Trek fans these days. Even if the movies are stalled, there’s a ton of Trek on TV, from Star Trek: Discovery to the animated Star Trek: Lower Decks to Star Trek: Picard and more to come.

The furthest along of these shows is Star Trek: Discovery, which returns for its third season next month. When we rejoin the crew of the USS Discovery, it will be far into the future, the group having jumped through a worm hold and ended up in a different time. And with a new time comes new characters.

The additions are notable because they mark the first time Star Trek will feature non-binary and transgender characters in its cast. First up, non-binary actor Blu del Barrio will play Adira, who develops “unexpected” bonds with Lt. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), who are a couple on the show.

Next, The OA veteran Ian Alexander will play Gray, who’s described as “empathetic, warm and eager to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a Trill host,” the Trill being a humanoid species native to the planet Trill.

Star Trek: Discovery co-showrunner and executive Michelle Paradise made a statement about the new hires:

"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. 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."

Star Trek: Discovery kicks off its third season on October 15.

Next. Star Trek boss justifies having 7 different Trek shows on at once. dark

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