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'Star Trek' to Make History With New Trans and Nonbinary Roles

Star Trek Actors

Welcome actors Ian Alexander and Blu Del Barrio.

MikelleStreet

Looks like Star Trek: Discover is looking to make history once again. After introducing the first openly gay character with Anthony Rapp's Lieutenant Stamets, and then airing the franchise's first kiss when Stamets kissed Dr. Hugh Culber played by Wilson Cruz all in 2017, they are ready to add more representation. Yes, they are boldly going where no other Star Trek series has gone before.

The third season of Star Trek: Discover is set to feature the first characters who are nonbinary or transgender. Gray, who is Trill "planning to be a host for a symbiotic alien species that lives in different hosts over its lifetime," is being portrayed by Ian Alexander, a trans actor. Variety broke the news this week.

Adira, another new character, identifies as nonbinary and is played by Blue del Barrio, who also identifies as nonbinary. The role is del Barrio's first major gig according to an interview with GLAAD. Alexander is known for his roles in The OA and The Last of Us Part II.

"I will try and say anything I can!" del Barrio said in an interview. "Adira is a wonderfully complex character. Mainly because of this duality they have within them: they're astonishingly intelligent and yet they're still a kid. They experience their emotions at a heightened level, like most teenagers. That's what makes them so fun to play"

Adira will bond with Stamets and Culber.

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Mikelle Street

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.