Slashdot Mirror
George Takei Opposes Gay Sulu In 'Star Trek Beyond' (hollywoodreporter.com)
HughPickens.com writes: Seth Abramovitch reports in the Hollywood Reporter that actor and LGBT activist George Takei says Paramount's plans to have Sulu's character in the upcoming 'Star Trek Beyond' the first LGBTQ lead character in Star Trek history is out of step with what creator Gene Roddenberry would have wanted. [Roddenberry] "was a strong supporter of LGBT equality," says Takei, now 79. "But he said he has been pushing the envelope and walking a very tight rope -- and if he pushed too hard, the show would not be on the air." Takei says he'd much prefer that Sulu stay straight. "I'm delighted that there's a gay character," says Takei. "Unfortunately, it's a twisting of Gene's creation, to which he put in so much thought. I think it's really unfortunate." The timeline logic of the new revelation is enough to befuddle even the most diehard of Trek enthusiasts, as the rebooted trilogy takes place before the action of the original series. In other words, assuming canon orthodoxy, this storyline suggest Sulu would have had to have first been gay and married, only to then go into the closet years later. Simon Pegg, who has co-written the latest Star Trek movie, as well as starring as Scotty, has responded to criticism by the actor George Takei at the film-makers' decision to make the character he used to play openly gay. "He's right, it is unfortunate, it's unfortunate that the screen version of the most inclusive, tolerant universe in science fiction hasn't featured an LGBT character until now. We could have introduced a new gay character, but he or she would have been primarily defined by their sexuality, seen as the 'gay character,' rather than simply for who they are, and isn't that tokenism?" says Pegg. "Our Trek is an alternate timeline with alternate details. Whatever magic ingredient determines our sexuality was different for Sulu in our timeline. I like this idea because it suggests that in a hypothetical multiverse, across an infinite matrix of alternate realities, we are all LGBT somewhere."
TNG did address LGBT issues in the fifth season episode called "The Outcast" as well as by introducing the Trill in "The Host."
Star Trek was at its best when it addressed social issues but wasn't so overt about it. For example, the TOS episode "Balance of Terror" showed some strong racism from Crewman Stiles toward Spock. But it wasn't so overt as to ruin an amazing story. On the other hand, "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" was far more overt and was a pretty mediocre episode even by third season standards. The beginning of "The Mark Of Gideon" is interesting and creepy when Kirk is mysteriously trapped on a replica of the Enterprise by himself. But it turns into a very overt commentary on contraception as Kirk strongly criticizes Gideon's leaders, whose beliefs about the sacredness of life are essentially identical to Christian teaching.
TNG also dealt with racism pretty well at times. The third season episode "The Enemy" shows Worf's hatred of the Romulans while Geordi is forced to work with another Romulan in order to survive while stranded on a planet. There's some pretty strong racism, but it's part of a story instead of just being the story. The message is very clear, but it's not so overt as to ruin a pretty damn good story.
Dax was bisexual.