I snooped around the scifi newsgroups recently hoping to hear some good gossip or good
opinions about my favorite shows. What I found instead was a substantial portion of fans
engaged in discussions about current events: everything from the 6 month anniversary of
September 11th to Rosie's coming out to highlight the challenges of gay parents and kids
in foster care.
At alt.tv.star-trek.enterprise, a lively thread was started by Laura called "Gene
Roddenberry, on Gays and Star Trek." Laura quoted the late Star Trek creator's opinion
from a 1991 interview in the Humanist. "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."
In 1991, Roddenberry said the following to the Advocate, "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."
Of course, as many Trekkers know, Roddenberry never had the opportunity to show gay
crewmembers or any gays for that matter. David Gerrold had written an episode called
"Blood and Fire" for the Next Generation's fifth season. It was about a gay may couple
that deals with an infectious alien bloodworms that were an allegory for AIDS. Paramount
had nixed the script due to avoiding upsetting young viewers who may tune in to the
syndicated show at an earlier than prime time hour. This sparked some lively debate in the
alt.tv.star-trek.enterprise newsgroup.
Bruck wrote, "There were some episodes that discussed gay issues, but always dressed up as
something else. "The Outcast" on TNG. "Chimera" on DS9."
James disagreed and felt this was cowardly. "Yeah I know, but dealing with issues in a
peripheral way isn't true to the original Trek philosophy."
King Bob sounded a bit hostile when he said, "And your reason for posting this old news
yet again, other than to further promote your own agenda is???" Of course Bob adds the "King" to his name to ensure no one
gets confused I guess. I suppose when black or Hispanics request equal representation on
television they're also promoting an "agenda" instead of wanting to view a show that bares
some resemblance to reality and American demographics. Shame on them!
Tieus writes, "I'm glad she posted this, but since it contains admissions from Gene
Roddenberry that, back in the day, he was a bit homophobic, it kinda undermines her
infamous theories about Kirk and Spock." The fun of fictional characters is you can play
with them in your head as much as you want. Let the lady have her jollies.
Enterprise may break some new ground in this area, at least those are the rumors.
On to other things…. There's lots to ponder in Trek. Hey, what about those
Suliban's? Well, I'm having lunch with one this weekend at the Grand Slam Star Trek Convention in
Pasadena, so I'll keep you posted. It's Jeff Ricketts; he played one the
Sulibans. It's his first foray into the Trek convention world, and he'll be signing autographs on one of
the days of the convention. Stop by and say hello.
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"Gene Roddenberry and Real Life "
