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Published Sep 2, 2020

Star Trek: Discovery Introduces First Transgender and Non-Binary Characters

Blu del Barrio and Ian Alexander join the cast for season three.

StarTrek.com

CBS All Access, ViacomCBS’ subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, today announced that season three of Star Trek: Discovery will introduce the Star Trek franchise’s first non-binary and transgender characters, furthering the “Star Trek” universe’s ongoing commitment to Gene Roddenberry’s original vision of celebrating diversity and inclusion.

The Star Trek universe’s first non-binary character is Adira, played by Blu del Barrio. Adira is highly intelligent with a confidence and self-assurance well beyond their years. They will find a new home on the U.S.S. Discovery and form an unexpected bond with Lt. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz). The first transgender character is Gray, portrayed by Ian Alexander. Gray is empathetic, warm and eager to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a Trill host, but he will have to adapt when his life takes an unexpected turn.

“ 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,” said Michelle Paradise, co-showrunner and executive producer. “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.”

Blu del Barrio is a non-binary actor who uses they/them pronouns. Del Barrio was in their final year of studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art when they auditioned for the role of Adira. Del Barrio has been acting in theater and short films since the age of 7, and they’re incredibly excited to make their television acting debut in season three of Discovery .

Ian Alexander is a 19-year-old actor who uses they/them and he/him pronouns. He is best known for their roles as Buck Vu on the Netflix series “The OA” and Lev in Naughty Dog’s video game “The Last of Us Part II.” They are the first out transgender Asian-American person to act on television. They are also an advocate for transgender equality, racial justice and mental health awareness for LGBTQ+ youth.

The third season of Star Trek: Discovery will premiere on Thursday, Oct. 15. New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery ’s 13-episode third season will be available on demand weekly on Thursdays, exclusively for CBS All Access subscribers in the United States.

The First Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 Trailer has Arrived

Star Trek: Discovery streams on Paramount+ in the United States, airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave in Canada, and on Netflix in 190 countries.

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Star Trek's new characters Gray and Adira are transgender, non-binary

Science fiction franchise Star Trek's first transgender and non-binary characters will debut on US television next month.

Key points:

Transgender character Gray will be played by transgender actor Ian Alexander
Non-binary Adira will be played by Blu del Barrio
They will appear in the third season of CBS Television's series Star Trek: Discovery

Transgender character Gray will be played by transgender actor Ian Alexander while non-binary Adira will be played by Blu del Barrio, an actor who, like the character, does not identify as male or female.

They will appear in the third season of CBS Television's series Star Trek: Discovery, the latest incarnation of the TV franchise that launched in 1966.

Star Trek has spawned films, cartoons and a legion of loyal fans, known as Trekkies.

"Star Trek has always made a mission of giving visibility to underrepresented communities ," said Michelle Paradise, the show's co-showrunner and executive producer.

"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."

Star Trek: Discovery broke boundaries by featuring a married gay couple as central characters for the first time in the franchise's history.

The show also entered a new frontier when actor Sonequa Martin-Green became the first black woman to lead a Star Trek television series.

"I cannot wait for you all to meet these beautiful souls and wonderful artists," said actor Anthony Rapp, who plays one of the show's two gay characters, on Twitter.

"I am so so so proud of them and happy that they are a part of our show".

Actor del Barrio auditioned for the role while finishing drama school.

"When I got the call that I'd been cast as Adira, I hadn't yet told the majority of my friends and family that I was non-binary," del Barrio said.

"So when this happened, it felt like the universe saying, 'go ahead'."

Alexander, 19, played Buck Vu on the Netflix science fiction mystery series The OA and, according to CBS, is the first openly trans Asian-American actor to appear on television.

The third season of Star Trek: Discovery is scheduled to begin on October 15 and will be free-to-air.

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‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ To Introduce Nonbinary Character Played By Jesse James Keitel

| June 7, 2022 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 73 comments so far

Once again the Star Trek franchise will embrace diversity with the introduction of a new character on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds .

Jesse James Keitel as Dr. Aspen

First reported by Variety (and confirmed officially by Paramount+), Jesse James Keitel ( Big Sky , Queer as Folk ), who is a trans woman, will be appearing as a guest star on episode 7 of Strange New Worlds , debuting on June 16th. Keitel will be playing a nonbinary character named Dr. Aspen. According to Variety , Aspen “once worked as a Starfleet counselor, but whose experiences on the Federation border prompted them to shift careers and work as a humanitarian aid worker.” In the episode helmed by trans director Sydney Freeland ( Reservation Dogs ), Dr. Aspen “will develop a surprising connection” with Ethan Peck’s Spock.

Jesse James Keitel at New York City premiere of Strange New Worlds

Keitel made history as the first openly trans series regular on primetime network TV in the ABC series Big Sky . She is now starring in Peacock’s revival of Queer as Folk , which debuts on Jun 9th.

Jesse James Keitel in Big Sky

Keitel reacted to the official announcement by saying it has been a lifelong dream to be part of Star Trek.

So shook to be part of the @StarTrek family! An ACTUAL life long dream come true 🥹🚀😈 #StrangeNewWorlds https://t.co/kjnm22o2Ly — Jesse James Keitel 🏳️‍⚧️ (@JesseJKeitel) June 7, 2022

The inclusion of Keitel’s Dr. Aspen continues the efforts seen in the new series to embrace LGBTQ representation in the Star Trek Universe. Just last week, Jess Bush’s Christine Chapel was revealed to date both men and women, and the most recent season of Picard included a romantic storyline with Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd) and Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). And last year Star Trek: Discovery won a GLAAD Award for season three, which introduced the nonbinary character Adira (Blu Del Barrio) and trans character Grey (Ian Alexander), joining with the ship’s same-sex couple Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz).

Jeri Ryan as Seven and Michelle Hurd in Star Trek: Picard

New episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds debut on Thursdays exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., Latin America, Australia and the Nordics. The series airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave in Canada. In New Zealand, it is available on TVNZ , and in India on Voot Select . Strange New Worlds will arrive via Paramount+ in select countries in Europe when the service launches later this year, starting with the UK and Ireland in June.

Find more Strange New Worlds news and reviews on TrekMovie.

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I love brave identities. From Tumblr to Star Trek!

Excellent, I’m excited for the new Queer as Folk too.

Love her on Big Sky!

The would be so cool to have her as a recurring character as Chappel’s love interest.

Dr Korby though?

I don’t think these writers really care that much. The show has already broken that canon since Chapel is dating other people now and she’s clearly not engaged to him in this period like she was in TOS. So what would it change at this point?

The writers are just changing whatever canon to develop the characters more. Which I’m OK with, but I wish they stopped pretending the show is following canon. It’s not outside of the broad sense. The two Chapel’s act so differently from each other, you would think one came from a different universe.

We have no idea from “What Are Little Girls Made Of” when Chapel and Korby became engaged. They could introduce Korby in the show’s last season and still fit the canon of TOS.

The fact headlines are still made for LGBTQ+ introductions signals we still have a long way to go. Hopefully one day it becomes so commonly accepted that it’s just part of everyday life.

Star Trek has done a great job recently with representation and I’m not surprised this will continue with SNW.

Well cbs / paramount like to parade their lgbtq arround like prize show ponies, so they can pound their chest shouting from the roof how great they are for being so inclusive. Kinda leaves one questioning is cbs really being inclusive to benefit lgbtq representation?, or are they just doing it for more self serving interests because its become a trendy thing to do.

Your reaction confirms for me exactly why this needs to be done by P+.

It’s the last… If they were really trying to do smtg good for some people or the society , they’d think about ways to introduce characters or write stories about peopl who still stand in the Schmuddelecke and break new ground. Doing something trendy is not special nor brave. It’s just part of marketing.

“Schmuddelecke” probably doesn’t get you a lot of replies from the English speaking fan community, but you’ve earned points in my book, mein Freund! 😂

That being said though, the more positively written diversity, the better, I say! 🏳️‍🌈

Hehe, I actually translated that to English and got the same expression, wondering a bit, but thinking of Kindergarten or Angst I decided to keep the word. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good to bring the normality of diversity into media. But it’s still extremely limited and superficial. Discrimination may start with gender, sex, sexual orientation or skin colour, but it doesn’t end there. I’d wish Star Trek to look more into the future, figure out problems of society that most people don’t think of and set trends.

Well written sci-fi has always done a good job as an allegory for the audiences of its time, and done even better when it held up over the decades that followed. I wonder, what kind of problems, issues, or angles would you wish for them to tackle, specifically (especially if yet more “unforeseen” to even arise)?

If you’ve got a great, creative angle for a storyline, you might want to think about submitting it to the powers that be! Don’t know if they’re open to that kind of approach anymore, but the Trek of yesteryear really thrived on some of those submissions. 🖖😉

They could make a character for example that’s really annoying to everyone, including the audience therefore being excluded by the crew. Keep that some episodes and then change the perspective and showing what happened in his life and made him that way. Happy End: Development to the most trusted crewman (or woman). Sad end: everyone turning the back on him/her and the guy killing himself in a way that no one of the crew ever knows or even gets a clue of his suffering. Just the audience would know. I mean it’s hard to bring that into Trek, but since the current producers don’t really care for plot holes it would be possible. Or just something like that. Something that really makes people think. Something where the audience says “wow, I haven’t thought about that, ever.”

Point taken, but historically Star Trek has never really done that. I think you’re confusing it with actual, literary science fiction.

That…. was a bad take. No.

Who is “pounding their chests” in this matter, aside from yourownself?

It couldn’t possibly be that they’re trying to celebrate people in marginalized communities that have only just begun getting actually visible roles, which Paramount has had a hand in casting. Just let them be celebrated and introduced. It doesn’t hurt anyone.

No, it really doesn’t “leave one questioning” anything other than why someone’s looking for something to object to.

This. Just have the characters. Make them good characters and treat it as the future (hopefully) will – as just a regular part of life. One day.

Even NASA it doing it by parading the fact that a woman and POC will walk on the moon as part of the Artemis Program. I really wish they wouldn’t and just let the press pick up on it on their own. The fact NASA keeps highlighting it worries me.

I never even knew that, so I just found out about this by you parading that info here.

Whilst I don’t disagree with the long term goal it is worth remembering that it is currently Pride Month so it does still make sense that they are releasing this casting news now to coincide with a period of celebration for LGBTQ+ culture.

Excellent point!

I’m sure most of the creatives are sincere but from the business perspective it will be about money because *that’s how capitalism works*.

However if this is one of those cases where what capitalism demands and the right thing to do are in alignment I’m not going to knock it.

cough, cough, marketing, cough cough, corporate representation…

Well. It’s nice to see some more diversity, but it’s a shame they didn’t get a non-binary actor to play a non-binary character.

Keitel is non-binary and uses she/her pronouns. Big Sky made her the first nonbinary actor to play a nonbinary series regular on primetime television.[

Your information is wrong, dude.

Well someone better tell the Advocate, pretty much every news outlet & Jesse herself…she says she’s a Non-Binary transfeminine actor who uses She/Her They/Them pronouns.

https://www.advocate.com/television/2020/11/13/jesse-james-keitel-makes-nonbinary-tv-history-big-sky?amp

“she says she’s a Non-Binary”

Exactly…not sure what you are talking about then because I was point that out to Cass myself?

Why….they are an actor. They are acting.

What are you talking about? Keitel is non-binary. Did you not read the article before responding?

Why so condescending, friend? You could have simply replied, “Actually, she is” and cited your source.

Source? The article above. LOL

What the heck, people?

hahaha. Yeah, but is TrekMovie an “official” source?

(Ducks phaser fire, scurries away…)

At what point did anyone say anything was official? Paul said to cite a source. I did. So your comment is a complete non sequitur.

Again, so condescending. Perhaps you need to get a kitten (or a tribble).

If you don’t like the tone of my replies… well, actually, I’ll sleep just fine. Feel free not to read them.

Cool. Can’t wait to see the episode. This show has been great (beside the small point of a federation doctor mutilating and harming life forms for “fun” with M’benga’s space station fly fishing trip that seemed an odd and contemporary choice anchored in our less enlightened “primitive” 21st century culture.)

I’m pretty sure fishing wouldn’t just end just because they don’t enslave animals anymore. I do have a hard time seeing hunting being part of the 23rd or 24th century but humans still eat meat just the same unless I’m forgetting something.

Since they have food replicators or synthesizers (?) in the future, this shouldn’t be a thing. They just eat replicated meat. With 3d printing I can see this coming in our near future.

Fishing isn’t done just for the food, though. See “catch and release.”

I still think they eat regular meat though, at least sometimes. We see people like Riker, Sisko and now Pike cooking. Is it just replicated meat? Sisko dad has a restaurant, I imagine there is real meat there. Or maybe it’s just made in the lab or something?

At least 80 years after a Strange New Worlds people will still be fishing: In 2344, young Will Riker & his dad went on a fishing trip. Will was able to hook a large fish, but His dad insisted on reeling the fish in. And on Nepenthe his daughter hunted “bunnicorns” (rabbits with horns).

Great examples! I forgot about the Riker story too.

It is interesting though, some think Star Trek is an ultra left society to the point killing animals for food is no longer a thing. And I agree, with replicators it doesn’t have to be a thing anymore. But no one comes across as strictly vegans or vegetarians in the 23rd or 24th century either. But even if I can believe humans no longer kill animals for food I can’t imagine it being a Federation decree in every society.

You’re right. That’s a small point.

Why? Fishing is fishing. People will continue to catch and eat fish for as long as people and fish both continue to exist.

“ Chapel was revealed to date both men and women”? Huh? How did I miss that? Well, since English is not my native language, I might not notice that. On the other hand, there was a subtle “female bromance” between Chapel and Ortegas. Nevertheless, since they are dating characters from different species, this shouldn’t be a thing anyway.

She referred to an ex-girlfriend.

Just write a real character and don’t use their character to be a trite metaphor like Discovery did with Grey. That’s such a low bar to clear, I am optimistic SNW will set a good example for the community.

I was very disappointed with Grey. They made such a big deal about the character, who ended up bringing nothing to the show, was portrayed by a bad actor, and then just left. Grey was a dud and a mistake, which was frustrating since it was exciting at first to see such representation.

I do like those actors in star trek series. I don`t like the fuzz its made about it. I would much more appreciate if they focus on good stories.

Yes, that’s what makes it so annoying. I often get a feeling that LGBTQ+ persons are used as an instrument by companies to parrade their unearned virtues. Tell a good story and all will be forgiven

This^. I could care less about a character’s sexual preference(s), as long as there’s a good story to be had.

I hope this isn’t just pandering to get views, like that terrible kiss between 7 and Raffy that came out of nowhere. That was some terrible pandering. There was no hint of chemistry even between them. Just like the writers were like, oh.. it’s the last episode… we need something big…. how about random lesbians? Picard and Q have waaaaaay more chemistry and honestly I thought they were going to kiss too, the way that finale was going…

I agree that Seven and Raffi were a pointless coupling. There is zero chemistry between those actors and between those characters. What a missed opportunity.

It ticks a box though, so who cares if it’s totally hollow, it’s where we are now with modern TV and film.

A show where they fit in a non binary character very naturally was in Another Life, which is like a sci fi type alien invading earth type show. Anyways the relationship with zayne and the fat Mexican dude (maybe horhay or hesus or sorry i forget) was pretty cute, and not forced.

As long as the story works, and they don’t make the same mistakes with Adira and Grey.

Uh, wouldn’t the first trans a trans actress to be a series regular have been Candace Cayne on Dirty Sexy Money?

I think since she was in less than 1/2 the episodes it would be a recurring role, not series regular.

There was Nicole Maines on ‘Supergirl’. Years ago there was a trans character on a UK soap called ‘Coronation Street’ but this was long enough ago that I couldn’t be sure they did it right and cast a trans actress. There’s also Laverne Cox who’s done numerous roles including on ‘Orange Is The New Black’. There will also be other cases where the actress is trans but they aren’t out or at least not to the public.

I’m sure there will be many other examples.

I don’t care.

I would like to see the Binars again… They are also genderless. Although I have to say that the term nonbinary Binars doesn’t really compute :-)

I love it when Trek shows the great diversity of the human condition…plus it freaks the right out completely and we get to hear the true ugly conservative rant as they pop blood vessels attached to their beady little brains.

Spoken like a truly open-minded, pluralistic, enlightened individual

Sorry, might be a bit of anger brought on by my two brothers who have been life long Star Trek fans suddenly turned hating it because of some conservative editorial piece that told them to be ageist it. But I suppose this is the truth of the world we live in today.

Not sure about this. I would rather focus on the cast of characters, rather than needlessly expand the roster. Should have established the character first from the jump.

Will this person be a guest or a recurring character? Because to add another regular cast member would be a head-scracther because they are already not making enough use of Number One, Uhura and Hemmer!

its not very often that someone as naturally beautiful as Jesse James Keitel comes along !

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'Star Trek: Discovery' makes franchise history with trans, nonbinary characters

LOS ANGELES - In a first for the "Star Trek" franchise, characters who are gender-nonbinary and transgender will appear on the third season of "Star Trek: Discovery," CBS All Access announced on Wednesday.

Ian Alexander ("The OA") will play Gray, a trans man who has spent his life as a Trill planning to be a host for a symbiotic alien species that lives in different hosts over its lifetime.

Newcomer Blu del Barrio will play Adira, a nonbinary character who bonds with Lt. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), the first same-sex couple in "Trek" TV series history.

"'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," co-showrunner and executive producer Michelle Paradise said in a statement.

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The production worked closely with GLAAD, especially director of transgender media and representation Nick Adams, in crafting Gray and Adira for Season 3.

"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," said Paradise.

When Alexander first appeared as a trans character on the Netflix sci-fi series "The OA," he was the first out trans Asian American actor on TV. He most recently played the trans character Lev on the acclaimed video game "The Last of Us Part II."

Del Barrio was cast on "Discovery" while in their final year at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. They've been acting in theater and short film productions since they were 7; "Discovery" will be their TV debut.

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In an interview with Adams posted to GLAAD's website, Del Barrio says Adira is "an introvert" suffering from memory loss who doesn't tell people that they're nonbinary right away -- which ended up mirroring their own experience coming out as nonbinary.

"When I got the call that I'd been cast as Adira, I hadn't yet told the majority of my friends and family that I was nonbinary," Del Barrio says. "I had only recently discovered the word and realized that it described how I'd felt for a long time. I knew I wanted to tell my friends and family, so when this happened, it felt like the universe saying 'go ahead.'"

Although the original "Star Trek" TV series, which first ran on NBC from 1966 to 1969, was groundbreaking at the time for its depiction of Black and Asian characters, until the 2010s, the "Trek" franchise largely avoided LBGTQ characters of any significance.

For years, the most explicit depiction of any LBGTQ characters in "Trek" was in a 1992 episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" titled "The Outcast," in which the crew of the Enterprise encounter the J'naii, an alien race that has no gender and views any expressions of gender or sexuality to be taboo. Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) ends up falling in love with a J'naii who identifies as female, until she is forced by her society to undergo a form of therapy that eradicates her gender identity. (Frakes has said the episode was not "gutsy" enough.)

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The Trill species has also allowed "Star Trek" to dip into queer issues, if tentatively. In the 1991 "TNG" episode "The Host," Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) falls passionately in love with a male Trill, but when the host body dies and the symbiont alien is placed in a female host, Crusher says she can't continue with the relationship. A 1995 episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" flipped that equation, with the female Trill Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) reuniting with a woman who was Dax's wife when Dax lived inside a male host. Dax wants to restart their relationship, and the two women kiss, but the episode ends with the ex-wife deciding instead to move on.

Finally, the 2016 feature film "Star Trek Beyond" — set in an alternate "Trek" universe — revealed that character of Sulu (John Cho) has a husband and daughter, though the husband character (played by the film's co-screenwriter Doug Jung) had no lines, and the characters only briefly hug on screen.

It wasn't until Stamets and Culber were introduced on "Discovery" in 2017 that two male "Trek" characters were depicted in a fully expressed romantic relationship -- and played by two out queer actors.

The third season of "Star Trek: Discovery" premieres on CBS All Access on Oct. 15.

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‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Makes Franchise History With First Trans, Non-Binary Characters

By Adam B. Vary

Adam B. Vary

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Ian Alexander Blu del Barrio Star Trek Discovery

In a first for the “ Star Trek ” franchise, characters who are gender non-binary and transgender will appear on the third season of “ Star Trek: Discovery ,” CBS All Access announced on Wednesday.

Ian Alexander (“The OA”) will play Gray, a trans man who has spent his life as a Trill planning to be a host for a symbiotic alien species that lives in different hosts over its lifetime.

Newcomer Blu del Barrio will play Adira, a non-binary character who bonds with Lt. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), the first same-sex couple in “Trek” TV series history.

“‘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,” co-showrunner and executive producer Michelle Paradise said in a statement.

The production worked closely with GLAAD, especially director of transgender media and representation Nick Adams, in crafting Gray and Adira for Season 3.

“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,” said Paradise.

When Alexander first appeared as a trans character on the Netflix sci-fi series “The OA,” he was the first out trans Asian American actor on TV. He most recently played the trans character Lev on the acclaimed video game “The Last of Us Part II.”

Del Barrio was cast on “Discovery” while in their final year at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. They’ve been acting in theater and short film productions since they were 7; “Discovery” will be their TV debut.

In an interview with Adams posted to GLAAD’s website , Del Barrio says Adira is “an introvert” suffering from memory loss who doesn’t tell people that they’re non-binary right away — which ended up mirroring their own experience coming out as non-binary.

“When I got the call that I’d been cast as Adira, I hadn’t yet told the majority of my friends and family that I was non-binary,” Del Barrio says. “I had only recently discovered the word and realized that it described how I’d felt for a long time. I knew I wanted to tell my friends and family, so when this happened, it felt like the universe saying ‘go ahead.'”

Although the original “Star Trek” TV series, which first ran on NBC from 1966 to 1969, was groundbreaking at the time for its depiction of Black and Asian characters, until the 2010s, the “Trek” franchise largely avoided LBGTQ characters of any significance.

For years, the most explicit depiction of any LBGTQ characters in “Trek” was in a 1992 episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” titled “The Outcast,” in which the crew of the Enterprise encounter the J’naii, an alien race that has no gender and views any expressions of gender or sexuality to be taboo. Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) ends up falling in love with a J’naii who identifies as female, until she is forced by her society to undergo a form of therapy that eradicates her gender identity. (Frakes has said the episode was not “gutsy” enough.)

The Trill species has also allowed “Star Trek” to dip into queer issues, if tentatively. In the 1991 “TNG” episode “The Host,” Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) falls passionately in love with a male Trill, but when the host body dies and the symbiont alien is placed in a female host, Crusher says she can’t continue with the relationship. A 1995 episode of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” flipped that equation, with the female Trill Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) reuniting with a woman who was Dax’s wife when Dax lived inside a male host. Dax wants to restart their relationship, and the two women kiss, but the episode ends with the ex-wife deciding instead to move on.

Finally, the 2016 feature film “Star Trek Beyond” — set in an alternate “Trek” universe — revealed that character of Sulu (John Cho) has a husband and daughter, though the husband character (played by the film’s co-screenwriter Doug Jung) had no lines, and the characters only briefly hug on screen.

It wasn’t until Stamets and Culber were introduced on “Discovery” in 2017 that two male “Trek” characters were depicted in a fully expressed romantic relationship — and played by two out queer actors.

The third season of “Star Trek: Discovery” premieres on CBS All Access on Oct. 15.

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Broadcast tv ad sales pioneer jo ann ross ends decades-long run at cbs and paramount global, ‘star trek: discovery’ introduces first-ever non-binary and trans characters with blu del barrio and ian alexander.

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“ 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,” said Michelle Paradise, co-showrunner and executive producer. “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.”

Del Barrio is a non-binary actor who uses they/them pronouns. Del Barrio was in their final year of studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art when they auditioned for the role. Del Barrio has been acting in theater and short films before making their debut in Star Trek: Discovery.

Alexander, who uses they/them and he/him pronouns, is best known for his roles as Buck Vu on Netflix’s The OA and Lev in the video game The Last of Us Part II . Alexander made history as the first out transgender Asian-American person to act on television. He is also an advocate for transgender equality, racial justice and mental health awareness for LGBTQ + youth. Alexander and Del Barrio will be recurring guest stars.

In addition to having the first-ever openly non-binary and transgender characters, Star Trek: Discovery was moving the needle with inclusivity since season one. Sonequa Martin-Green made history as the first woman of color to lead a show in the Star Trek franchise. In addition, the aforementioned Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz play the first openly gay characters who are in a same-sex marriage in the franchise.

The third season of Star Trek: Discovery will premiere October 15. New episodes of the 13-episode season will be available on-demand weekly on Thursdays.

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'Star Trek: Discovery': Blu del Barrio on Playing Franchise's First Non-Binary Character (Exclusive)

The newcomer talks to ET about getting cast in the CBS All Access series and being guided by Wilson Cruz and Anthony Rapp.

Newcomer Blu del Barrio (pronouns: they/them) made their professional acting debut on Star Trek: Discovery as Adira, the franchise's first non-binary character , in the latest episode of the CBS All Access series. Joining a rich universe playing a character of historic significance wasn't lost on del Barrio, who, in the year prior to being cast in the role, was going through their own personal journey of discovering their identity.

"The whole year before I got this job, I was struggling a lot with trying to understand who I was and struggling a lot with my gender. I was questioning a lot of things and I started auditioning for non-binary roles because I knew I wasn't cisgender and I was trying to figure myself out. I kept getting drawn to wanting to play a non-binary role, probably because I wanted to be able to explore myself that way but I wasn't really telling anyone about it," del Barrio tells ET, sharing that playing Adira informed a lot of their own personal growth.

"Getting this job and getting to play Adira was really overwhelming at first, but overall a massive blessing because it allowed me to explore myself. I've grown alongside Adira," they add. "It's a really strange way for it to happen, but I'm so glad that it has."

Del Barrio credits Star Trek: Discovery stalwarts Wilson Cruz and Anthony Rapp , who themselves made history playing Star Trek 's first openly gay characters , for their guidance throughout the process. "They helped me in more ways than I can describe," they praise. In a chat with ET, del Barrio discusses getting cast as Adira, why the character doesn't identity as non-binary right off the bat and being a part of the queer family on the Discovery set.

ET: Being cast in the Star Trek universe is a big deal and this was a secret you had to keep for a while. How did this come together for you? How exciting was it to finally get to speak freely about the fact that you're on Discovery ?

Blu del Barrio : It was definitely really hard. It was such a huge deal for me and it's such a massive universe of things that I've wanted to talk about it. I think only two of my closest friends knew, and then I couldn't say anything else and it's been almost a whole year of having to wait since I got the job. So it was just awesome to finally be able to talk about it after so long.

This is also your first professional acting job. Is it sinking in?

Definitely still hasn't totally sunk in. It still feels really surreal. It hasn't really stopped feeling surreal since I got the job, it's insane. I feel incredibly lucky every time I get to walk back on set and grateful to be able to be a part of it. I just feel like I got really lucky in this life, and to be in a show like this with a cast this amazing and people this fantastic. I'm thrilled.

What initially drew you to the character of Adira, Star Trek 's first non-binary character?

The whole year before I got this job, I was struggling a lot with trying to understand who I was and struggling a lot with my gender. I was questioning a lot of things and I started auditioning for non-binary roles because I knew I wasn't cisgender and I was trying to figure myself out. I kept getting drawn to wanting to play a non-binary role, probably because I wanted to be able to explore myself that way but I wasn't really telling anyone about it. So getting this job and getting to play Adira was really overwhelming at first, but overall a massive blessing because it allowed me to explore myself. I've grown alongside Adira. It's a really strange way for it to happen, but I'm so glad that it has. It's given me a community of people here who are incredibly supportive of me. Wilson and Anthony and Ian [Alexander, who plays the franchise's first transgender character, Gray,] are my rocks here and they've helped me through a lot of stuff that I couldn't go through myself alone.

How has playing them informed your own personal journey and your own personal growth?

It's helped me to be open about things and totally transparent about things. What helped a lot is they gave me a lot of freedom with Adira to go wherever I needed to go because I was still questioning myself at the beginning of the season. I didn't want to make Adira somebody who was a hundred percent confident in how they wanted to present themselves to the world because I wasn't there yet either. Because of that I got to sort of grow and become more comfortable with myself and allowed that to influence where Adira was and vice versa. It just went back and forth, but I'm really grateful that they let me go in that direction because I didn't want to play a character who was totally confident in themselves when I wasn't yet, especially surrounding something so sensitive. It helped me in a lot of ways and I think Adira is going to continue to grow and become more confident in the same way that I am doing.

What I love about your character's introduction is that we don't find out that Adira is non-binary right off the bat. It isn't even part of a conversation really. Was that important for you?

Yeah, that was really important for me. I care a lot about an accurate representation of Adira and trans representation, especially. Because I wasn't yet fully out to a lot of my family and some of my friends still, I didn't feel comfortable right off the bat having everyone use they/them pronouns for Adira because I wasn't out to everyone yet. So I wanted to wait until really I was, until I was in a place where I could talk to my family and my friends and tell them who I was. At that point I could then feel that this is now an accurate way for me to represent Adira onscreen as well because I'm there too. I didn't want to rush it. I didn't want to put pressure on myself. I just wanted it to be as honest as possible because there are so few trans characters onscreen and I wanted to make this character as transparent to my own experience as possible because we don't see a lot of trans characters onscreen who are questioning, who are maybe not completely out talking to everyone about how they're feeling about themselves. There's so much pressure in the media for us to be 100 percent confident and really sure about ourselves so that people watching the shows don't question us. But there are so many people who struggle with their identity and I wanted to at least have one character onscreen do that. Be able to see someone go from keeping everything inside to them sharing because that's what everyone has to do.

Wilson Cruz and Anthony Rapp broke barriers for LGBTQIA representation in the Star Trek franchise playing the franchise's first openly gay characters. How have they helped you as mentors or guides throughout this process?

They helped me in more ways than I can describe. Immediately when I got here and was new and didn't know anyone, they both reached out to me. Wilson took me out to have lunch and sat me down and talked about everything that was going on. Anthony was also incredibly wonderful and reached out to me to make sure I was OK. They both, right off the bat, were so supportive of me and whatever I needed they wanted to help me with and to be there for me. Like for Ian and myself, they have become our show dads. They do really feel like parental figures for us and also wonderful friends. They are really good examples for Ian and I to follow. I love them dearly, I really do.

Between the two of them and Ian, have you formed a de facto queer family on set? What does it mean to go on this adventure together?

It's exactly like that. It feels like we get to have a little queer family. Again, I feel lucky because I feel like that's so rare. Oftentimes there's maybe one queer character on a show or maybe two, but there's four of us and it's so awesome. There's four of us, all different ages and different backgrounds and we all get along really well. It does feel like a little family that I'm really grateful for.

What you can tease in terms of Adira's journey this season?

Adira is a very introverted person right off the bat. They don't share a lot very quickly, so the only way for them left to go forward is opening up. I think that's what can be expected. They put themselves in a situation on Discovery and now they're there and they're trying to do what they set out to do but in order to do that, they need to open up to the people around them. They can't just isolate themselves on the ship. They are there for a purpose and therefore they need to step out of their shell and put up and share their experience with other people. I think that is what's coming.

Lastly, what was it like to see the reaction to your casting news? Have you heard from young trans actors like Lachlan Watson or other non-binary, gender nonconforming actors within the industry since?

That I think was probably one of the most wonderful parts of this role being announced was that so many other trans actors my age who I've been looking up to sent me messages and emails and got in touch with me. Just to be in touch with another trans actor, since there are not many of us in the media, for me that was just the greatest thing on Earth because these are people that I've been looking up to and wanting to be like. So to have Lachlan and Theo [Germaine] and other actors message me and want to talk about our experiences was wonderful.

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery drop Thursdays on CBS All Access .

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Star Trek: Discovery season 3 to introduce series’ first major trans, nonbinary characters

Blu del Barrio will play Adria this October

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Blu del Barrio as Adria on Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek continues to boldly go where so many other shows really should.

The third season of Star Trek: Discovery , due this October, will introduce the first major non-binary and transgender characters in the history of the Star Trek franchise, GLAAD announced Wednesday . Trans actor Ian Alexander of The OA and The Last of Us Part 2 will play a Trill named Gray. The non-binary character, Adira, will be played by newcomer Blu del Barrio. In a new interview , del Barrio says the reveal of their non-binary gender is part of the character’s arc, and is revealed when they become closer to Stamets and Culber.

“Adira is a wonderfully complex character,” Barrio told GLAAD. “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. I like to describe them as cerebrally brilliant and emotionally a puppy. Adira is an introvert, but they keep a few people close to the chest, which I definitely resonate with. I don’t want to say too much and get in trouble, but all in all, Adira is a uniquely strange and beautiful character.”

Star Trek: Discovery season 3 will see the return of Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham and the rest of the Discovery crew. Joining the cast along with del Barrio and Alexander is David Ajala, set to star as a mysterious new character named Cleveland Booke. The show returns on Oct. 15 to CBS All Access.

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Star Trek to welcome first transgender character

Published 3 September 2020

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Sci-fi franchise Star Trek is set to introduce its first transgender and non-binary characters.

The characters are to appear in the third series of Star Trek: Discovery, producers said on Wednesday.

The trans character, Gray, will be played by trans actor Ian Alexander, and likewise non-binary Adira will be portrayed by Blu del Barrio.

"Star Trek has always made a mission of giving visibility to underrepresented communities," said a producer.

The show's co-runner and executive producer Michelle Paradise added: "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."

The programme, which will begin again next month on US TV network CBS, previously featured the first married gay characters in the franchise's history; while Sonequa Martin-Green also became the first Black woman to lead a Star Trek TV series.

Star Trek: Discovery pleases fans

Star Trek series to feature female lead

In an interview with GLAAD del Barrio said: "When I got the call that I'd been cast as Adira, I hadn't yet told the majority of my friends and family that I was non-binary.

"So when this happened, it felt like the universe saying 'go ahead'."

Anthony Rapp, one of the show's stars, tweeted : "I cannot wait for you all to meet these beautiful souls and wonderful artists. I am so so so proud of them and happy that they are a part of our show".

Star Trek: Discovery adding saga's first transgender and nonbinary characters

James is the TV News Editor for EW.com

Star Trek: Discovery is adding two castmembers that promise to break new ground for the sci-fi franchise.

The series is set to introduce the 54-year-old saga's first transgender and nonbinary characters.

In the upcoming third season of the CBS All Access show, fans will meet the Star Trek universe’s first non-binary character: Adira, played by newcomer Blu del Barrio. The character is described as "highly intelligent with a confidence and self-assurance well beyond their years." They will find a new home on the U.S.S. Discovery and "form an unexpected bond with Lt. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz)."

The transgender character is Gray, played by Ian Alexander ( The OA ). Gray is described as "empathetic, warm, and eager to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a Trill host, but he will have to adapt when his life takes an unexpected turn."

Here's a look at Barrio (left) and Alexander (right), out of character:

" 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,” said Michelle Paradise, co-showrunner and executive producer. "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."

Previously Star Trek: Discovery added new representation to the franchise by becoming the first Trek show to have a Black woman as its lead actor (Sonequa Martin-Green) and being the first show to have an openly gay character (Stamets).

The new episodes will pick up on season 2's cliffhanger and jump 930 years into the future – well beyond any previous entry in the franchise – where the Discovery crew will encounter an entire universe of changes and challenges.

Season 3 of Star Trek: Discovery launches Thursday, Oct. 15.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly 's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Star Trek: Discovery to Introduce Franchise’s First Non-Binary and Transgender Characters in Season 3

Rebecca iannucci, managing editor.

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Star Trek: Discovery will make franchise history with its upcoming third season, by way of the Star Trek universe’s first-ever transgender and non-binary characters.

TVLine has learned that Ian Alexander , an actor who uses they/them and he/him pronouns (pictured above, right), has been cast in the recurring guest star role of a transgender character named Gray. Described as empathetic and warm, Gray is eager to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a Trill host, but he will have to adapt when his life takes an unexpected turn.

Blu del Barrio , a non-binary actor who uses they/them pronouns, meanwhile will fill the recurring guest star role of Adira, a highly intelligent character with a confidence and self-assurance well beyond their years. After finding a new home on the U.S.S. Discovery, Adira forms an unexpected bond with Lt. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz).

“ 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,” said Michelle Paradise, co-showrunner and executive producer on Star Trek: Discovery . “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 will mark del Barrio’s screen acting debut following their studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Alexander, who is also the first out transgender Asian-American person to act on television, previously appeared on the Netflix fantasy drama The OA in the role of Buck Vu.

The third season of Star Trek: Discovery premieres Thursday, Oct. 15 on CBS All Access , with new episodes rolling out each week. Season 1, meanwhile, will begin airing on CBS proper later this month as the network buys time until its original scripted series can return.

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Not the first. TNG “The Outcast” (S05, E17). Riker falls for Soren. The Enterprise is contacted by a humanoid race called the J’naii. They are a race who have no gender.

True. And if you want to get technical, there have been many non-binary non-humanoid aliens depicted throughout the series. I suppose it would be fairer to say that these will be the first trans/non-binary RECURRING characters on a Trek series (assuming they are indeed recurring).

Yea the headline should properly read “first non-binary actors” rather than characters.

I don’t know for certain whether that’s the case, but it certainly might be, which would also be a noteworthy milestone.

Are they regulars or regularreoccurring… as opposed to one off guest characters? Perhaps that is the distinction.

This is not exactly true. The Next Generation episode “The Outcast” had a whole planet that was agender. Of course, that episode had a sad ending.

Some story-lines with the Trill have touched on issues of gender identity. For example, Dax has been transferred between male and female hosts multiple times.

Star Trek: Enterprise had an episode (“Congenitor”) about a tri-gender species.

Of course, if this is a regular cast member, the addition does increase representation of non-binary individuals (and in this case, actors) on TV. Especially in today’s world, we need to see a vision of the future that shows some cultural progress.

Of all of the social/biological issues to tackle on a Trek series, gender seems one of the most obvious. While the gender spectrum is obviously a complex and touchy subject here on Earth, with many firm and conflicting opinions on how it “should” work, it’s silly to assume alien races would present in the same ways that we do. (though no sillier than having nearly every civilized race be humanoid, but that’s another story)

Cue in people complaing that “SJWs” are ruining Stark Trek when the whole series from the get-go was a trailblazer in Social Justice.

A whole utopian society of science-loving, atheist, socialist pacifists with no biases regarding gender or race, and people have mostly been fine with it for decades.

Dude. Imagine Starfleet Academy in Winterfell. I would watch in a heartbeat :)

SJWs are ruining Star Trek. But not about this issue. Because Trek has adressed it before, during TNG, and 99% of Trek fans know that. So the characters are no problem. The problem is it’s all tokenistic bullcrap designed to get headlines because of the actors they hired, purely for digital backpats and the attention of people that aren’t even Trek fans in the first place.

Trek already had a multiracial cast in the 60s and Russians and Americans working together at the height of the Cold War. Your protests are no different that those protesting when the series had the first interracial kiss on TV way back then.

It’ll be cool when this is no longer news and is just commonplace

Several other have pointed out TNG’s “The Outcast” here. Then there is also Enterprise’s “Cogenitor” which features a trinary species with male, female, and a third non-binary gender. Rigelians (4), Andorians (4), and Species 8472 (5?) are all non-binary as well.

I will not tell my husband, otherwise he will not watch and he is a big Trekkie. The community says they are not taking over tv, but yet all the shows I watch, CW and non-CW, have LGBT characters or actors in it. Yeah, like hell they are not taking over.

Having LGBT characters or actors = taking over TV. Cool story.

What the hell defines “taking over”?? Just because you have to actually admit it’s a big ol’ world and you don’t run it anymore and that scares you means you are part of the problem. Please don’t watch, we are happy to lose you as a customer!!!

Off topic but I kinda think it would be cool to be a they, them. Because then I would be multiple people. I wonder how many people I would be fun to think about.

Wait so the mere presence of a group of people in different TV shows means they’re taking over? Like even if the solid majority of the characters aren’t LGBTQ? Ooof some of you genuinely don’t understand how silly you sound, do you?

And if your husband is a huge Trekkie as you claim, why would he have a problem with these characters now when Star Trek has been including characters outside of the traditional gender binary for 30 years?

Yeah, maybe in some far-flung hypothetical future when cisgendered, hetero characters are a minority on television, that argument would hold water.

It’s called appropriate representation equal to that in reality. REALITY. It’s not a ‘take over’ -, merely a refusal to allow the ignorant to suppress everyone else.

If they are really trying to represent reality, they need to start including stories about forced injections causing permanent systemic damage to half the crew. Except, oh yeah, most actors already have deformed asymmetric faces these days, with accompanying anomalous behavior.

The mere presence of these Individuals does not represent a takeover. As a small minority of the population, they will always remain a small minority of characters on television. Unless you refuse to believe such humans exist, it shouldn’t be much of a strain to imagine them existing on your screen. The truth is that it’s more about “out of sight, out of mind”, than a fear of a future where all actors use they/them pronouns. It’s not any more likely to happen than it would be to witness a sea of Trans customers on your next trip to Wal-Mart.

And if you watched TV in the 1950’s you’d think that black people barely existed at all. No, LGBTQ+ are not taking over TV but they are finally getting fair representation. Too bad you’re a bigoted homophobe.

I’d imagine a thousand years in the future, if someone born biologically male wanted to be biologically female, they could be right down to the chromosomal level, and this contemporary social issue of ours would just disappear. I applaud Star Trek for exploring it in the longstanding tradition of the franchise and of sci fi in general, but maybe it makes more sense to do it allegorically? Well, it’s hard to tell from the few lines above–maybe that’s exactly what they’ll do.

I am looking forward to S3 as it goes boldly further into the future than the franchise has brought us…

I agree. Prequels and spinoffs are interesting, but with a show that explores the future, it’s cool to see more and more of that future rather than just filling in gaps in the middle.

Loved Ian Alexander in The OA, it will be cool to see him again in Disco

Oh fantastic!!!

Have I mentioned how happy I am that every current Star Trek series is effectively canceled? Buhbye, Kurtzman, you egregious hack!

Have we ever told you how easy it is to tell that bigoted homophobes like you clearly have no understanding of what Star Trek is all about? The ratings will be fine without knuckledraggers like you.

Um… Picard was renewed for a second season, the Pike series has been ordered to series and Discovery season 3 starts soon… so.. you are wrong.

Um… there are lots of videos and articles on the subject, but I’ll break it down for you. ViacomCBS is in bad financial shape. They’ll be forced to sell some of their assets. One of the assets up for sale is the Star Trek franchise. However, corporate has determined that the movies and shows put out by Bad Robot and Secret Hideout have significantly devalued the brand, to the point where no potential buyer will touch it. Thus, they’ve brought in a “fixer” named Emma Watts to attempt to restore the franchise to something resembling its former glory. Watts knows this can’t happen with Kurtzman at the helm, so every Secret Hideout project is effectively canceled. Discovery will end with Season 3, since that was already in production when Watts took over. Picard will not get a second season after all (and PStew has no interest in continuing on with it, anyway). Lower Decks was DOA. Prodigy will be DOA. And as for the Pike series, the announcement was a trial balloon, much like the announcement for Section 31 (which never happened). Kurtzman was trying to gauge public interest and see if any of the streaming services would bite. Well, public interest was low and no one ponied up any dough, so Pike likewise ain’t happening. Moving forward, the only Trek you’ll see is whatever project Watts decides will boost the franchise, probably a film project. After that, if all goes well, Star Trek will be sold, hopefully to someone who understands Gene Roddenberry’s vision of the future and has a sincere interest in bringing back all the fans who have been alienated by NuTrek in the past ten years.

You are wrong.. those “videos and articles” are not from legitimate sources. and even worse than that are from sources with an axe to grind for political reasons. Watts is in charge of the film studio, not the TV side… the brand is busy expanding, not subtracting.. they need the IP because it is the biggest thing they have for the streaming service which is about to expand to more of an overall Viacom streamer.. Picard season 2 has already been ordered and Stewart is still ouit there talking it up. The Pike series was actually ordered to series, unlike Section 31 which was just announced as being “in development”. So pretty much everything you said is untrue.

LOL , sure Jan.

I am so sick of this crap… enough is enough

If it’s woke, it’s broke. Sad to say this is the first season of any Star Trek show I’m giving a pass. They should have learned Disney’s lesson. I can get social justice lessons crammed down my throat at work: when I watch TV I’m looking for a break from real life, not more of the same.

To all those saying this is proper representation and is “justice” to get back at the big bad evil “homophobes” or whatever… Having multiple gay or transgender actors playing characters who also fit those labels simply to say they’ve done it is none other than what you far leftists call tokenization. It also often shows a higher number of these kinds of characters than would exist in real life. Also if we aren’t evolved past gender confusion and self mutilation in the future, then the rest of the technological innovations are basically moot. You guys call this “progress” because it’s something different that what was the norm a hundred years ago. Change isn’t always good people.

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Discovery season 3 adds star trek’s first non-binary & transgender characters.

Blu Del Barrio and Ian Alexander have been cast as non-binary and transgender characters, respectively, on Star Trek: Discovery season 3.

Blu Del Barrio and Ian Alexander have been cast as non-binary and transgender characters, respectively, on Star Trek: Discover y season 3. The show's season 1, which was the first original live-action series in the Star Trek universe in almost 15 years when it launched in 2017, was well-received and followed it up with a season 2 that was hailed for its attempts to connect it more closely to the wider Star Trek universe. Starring Sonequa Martin-Green as Commander Burnham, the show is set a decade before the events of the first Star Trek TV show.

Season 2 introduced the original Star Trek: Enterprise Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and Spock (Ethan Peck), who will now star in their own spinoff, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . Discovery season 2 ended with the Commander and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery flung forward hundreds of years into the future after travelling into a wormhole. Season 3, which starts on CBS All Access on October 15, will pick up the story there, with the crew having to negotiate a whole new set of problems in their new timeline. And they won't be alone.

Related: Star Trek: Every Captain's First Ship (& How They Earned Command)

CBS has announced that two new cast members will be joining Star Trek: Discovery for season 3 and, in a first for the Star Trek franchise, they will be portraying non-binary and transgender characters. Del Barrio will play Adira, a non-binary character who is highly intelligent and confident. Alexander will play Gray, a transgender character who is described as warm and empathetic. The casting has stayed true to the characters, with Del Barrio being non-binary and Alexander being transgender. Showrunner Michelle Paradise spoke about the decision to cast the pair:

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.

While Del Barrio will be new to audiences, having been cast when they were still studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Alexander may be more recognizable. He starred as Buck Vu on The OA and provided the voice of Lev in The Last of Us Part II . They are known as advocates for transgender equality, racial justice and mental health awareness for LGBTQ+ youth.

As Paradise says, the casting news ties in with a long-held tradition in Star Trek , of representing marginalized communities. The Original Series included the character of Lieutenant Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) , at a time when black women were not represented on screen alongside white characters, and certainly not in positions of power. Thus, the casting of non-binary and transgender characters makes sense for the series.

It also gives the showrunners the opportunity to tell stories that haven't been seen in a mainstream network sci-fi series before, and the fact that they have GLAAD on board hopefully means that the characters aren't there just for the sake of window-dressing. There is little known about the narrative details for Star Trek: Discovery season 3 at this point, but one thing is assured: the show will be a little more diverse and hopefully will provide marginalized communities with characters that they can identify with.

Next: Star Trek Discovery: The REAL Reason Spock Never Mentioned Michael

Source: CBS

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Star Trek: Discovery's Blu del Barrio & Ian Alexander add first non-binary, transgender characters to franchise

Source: (L) Phil Sharp, (R) Jake Akita

Star Trek 's legacy of representation is a legendary one that has helped position sci-fi as a continuously progressive genre. Whether it was race or gender, Trekkies know that their franchise has always looked to move the needle in the right direction. Now, with a pair of casting announcements for Star Trek: Discovery 's third season, the franchise will continue that legacy with Star Trek 's first non-binary and transgender characters.

Playing these characters are actors Blu del Barrio and Ian Alexander (who also helped break ground with his performance in The Last of Us Part II ), respectively. Adira (del Barrio) is non-binary, described as "highly intelligent with a confidence and self-assurance well beyond their years," and looking to develop bonds with Lt. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) during their arc. Gray, a trans character played by Alexander, is "empathetic, warm and eager to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a Trill host," but will need to handle some unexpected twists and turns as his story goes on.

Both actors look to contribute to the cast's diversity and continue Star Trek 's representational legacy. The plot this year has thrust the crew even further into the future, which makes representation and inclusion all the more important.

“ 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,” said co-showrunner Michelle Paradise in a statement. “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 's third season will also star Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Rapp, Mary Wiseman, Cruz, David Ajala, and Michelle Yeoh. The show returns to CBS All Access on Oct. 15.

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'Star Trek: Discovery' casts first non-binary and transgender characters

The " Star Trek " universe will soon include both non-binary and transgender characters.

On Wednesday, CBS All Access announced that "Star Trek: Discovery" will add the roles of Adira, an intelligent and self-assured non-binary character who joins the U.S.S. Discovery, and Gray, a warm and eager transgender character who longs to fulfill his dream of being a Trill host. The new characters are played by actors whose gender identities coincide with those of their characters.

Blu del Barrio, a non-binary actor who uses they/them pronouns and has been acting in theater and short films since age 7, plays Adira in their first major TV role.

"When I got the call that I'd been cast as Adira, I hadn't yet told the majority of my friends and family that I was non-binary," del Barrio told GLAAD about their connection to the character. "I had only recently discovered the word and realized that it described how I'd felt for a long time. I knew I wanted to tell my friends and family, so when this (role) happened, it felt like the universe saying 'go ahead.' "

Ian Alexander, a transgender actor and activist who uses they/them and he/him pronouns and starred as Buck Vu in "The OA," plays Gray.

According to CBS, Alexander is the first out transgender Asian-American person to act on television. "I'm extremely excited," Alexander said in an Instagram post shared when the casting news was released.

"Star Trek: Discovery" – one of the franchise's newer shows along with " Star Trek: Picard ," " Star Trek: Lower Decks " and the recently announced " Star Trek: Strange New Worlds " – has its Season 3 debut on Oct. 15.

Star Trek Discovery’s Non-Binary Character Is Essential Representation

With the push for more inclusive content, Some shows, like Star Trek: Discovery, continue to set the standard for respectful representation.

Star Trek: Discovery is the first of the Star Trek franchise to not have been made in the U.S. but was made in Canada. This is perhaps one of the reasons that this series that began in 2017 didn’t shy away from taking a progressive and more inclusive approach. As Star Trek has always aimed to portray bright futures, Discovery appears to be just such a futuristic production, in theory and in reality. There are many elements that go into both the creative and marketing sides of the show that are progressive. Even the catering food served on set is progressive, as many of the cast and crew are vegan.

This series is the second Star Trek show, after Star Trek: Voyager , to feature a female lead, as well. The writers even give her a less traditional name for women: Michael. The main cast also features an openly gay couple, Hugh Culber and Paul Stamets (played by Wilson Cruz and Anthony Rapp). Another significant addition this series made to their cast in Season 3, who gained a lot of attention, was Adira Tal.

RELATED: Hard Sci-Fi Vs. Soft Sci-Fi, Explained

Adira’s character joined the show in 2020, played by non-binary actor, Blu Del Barrio, and has since received lots of positive feedback. The way that Adira is introduced in the show is even sensitive and respectful. When they are first introduced , it is not totally clear that they are non-binary; in fact, they use she/her pronouns for several episodes. Their non-binary identity and pronouns are a detail that is transitioned into the show so that it feels more natural in the storyline, and so it doesn't diminish the significance of the character to only serve as a diversity role. By the time they tell Stamets that they "never felt like a 'she' or a 'her,'" the audience is already attached to Adira.

Adira was at one point even in a relationship with a Trill, which also caters to the representation seen through this character. Though fate has other plans for the future of the relationship, this relationship was essential to Adira becoming Adira Tal, as they received the symbiont from their former partner. Further, the inclusion of their relationship helps to present Adira as a relatable character for the non-binary audience.

Along with doing a fantastic job bringing the character to life, Del Barrio also understands some of the emotional and mental struggles of their character and what they represent, historically. Not long before Del Barrio was cast in the role, they were exploring their own understanding of their gender identity. Auditioning for non-binary roles is part of what allowed them to understand themself, and become comfortable wearing that on their sleeve too, just as Adira does as Season 3 progresses.

It is a difficult transition to both understand oneself, and have to teach others to see oneself that same way. What's more, it adds another layer of difficulty to do so under the public eye. While owning one’s identity in the light of Hollywood can result in an outpour of support, it’s just as likely to receive negative responses by those made uncomfortable by perspectives they don’t understand. This detail really speaks to Del Barrio’s ability as an actor, because not only is their performance scrutinized, but so is their personal life. To face that daily requires a significant level of psychological and emotional strength, all while not letting it affect the job.

Del Barrio shares some common experiences, with their character but they also have a personal bond to Adira. Having this connection to a character often creates a more impressive performance because the actor embodies that character’s emotions. Such performances are the kind that can make an actor’s career. Del Barrio was fortunate to find some mentorship in Cruz and Rapp, as they helped them understand how to handle the pressure of the role and fame, which allowed them to be comfortable and successful in playing Adira. This is reflected in the onscreen relationships of their characters: Hugh and Paul take Adira into their lives as their adopted child.

Along with the significance of this role to Del Barrio, it is also very important to the audience of non-binary folks, or those that are exploring their gender or sexuality and trying to better understand themselves in the same way. The existence of Adira’s storyline, along with the true-life story of Del Barrio’s personal relationship with the character, is likely to inspire anyone — but especially those that can relate to the very relevant struggles of the character and actor.

Even those that find themselves bothered by a non-binary character in the series can learn something from it. Either it can reflect to them a conflict within themselves, or it could help them to see a perspective that they are oblivious to or unaware of. Having a non-binary character in such a popular franchise is very important, because so many people consume Star Trek media. These examples of acceptance in film and television help close-minded individuals to open their perspective, and help those struggling to understand themselves find community and understanding.

Beyond what they represent to the LGBTQ+ fans, Adira is an overall inspiring character that adds to the found-family element of the show. They endure a considerable amount in their lifetime and still persevere, prioritizing themself and their own growth, making them a good example for any viewer in the audience. Adira Tal is certainly a good addition to Star Trek: Discovery, and Del Barrio's performance of the character is one that has inspired the cast, fans of the show, and future filmmakers alike. It is almost certain that this example of diversity and inclusion, along with a few other similar examples in modern television and film, will not be the last of their kind.

MORE: Early Examples Of Parallel Universes In Film & TV

Source: Wikipedia - Star Trek Discovery

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Star Trek: Discovery Introduces First Transgender and Non-Binary Characters
The Star Trek universe's first non-binary character is Adira, played by Blu del Barrio. Adira is highly intelligent with a confidence and self-assurance well beyond their years. They will find a new home on the U.S.S. Discovery and form an unexpected bond with Lt. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz).
Blu del Barrio
Blu del Barrio (born September 15, 1997) is an American actor, best known for playing Adira Tal in Star Trek: Discovery.They are the first openly non-binary actor, playing the first non-binary role in Star Trek.Del Barrio has studied and engaged in the performing arts since childhood, graduating from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in 2019.
'Star Trek: Discovery' Trans, Non-Binary Characters Talk Historic Ep
The Writers Knew Early on They Wanted Non-Binary and Trans Representation for Season 3. Infinite diversity in infinite combinations has been one of the core values of "Star Trek" ever since ...
Star Trek's new characters Gray and Adira are transgender, non-binary
Star Trek's first non-binary character, Adira, will be played by Blu del Burrio. (Supplied: startrek.com) "It believes in showing people that a future without division on the basis of race, gender ...
'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' To Introduce Nonbinary Character Played
Once again the Star Trek franchise will embrace diversity with the introduction of a new character on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Jesse James Keitel as Dr. Aspen. First reported by Variety (and ...
'Star Trek: Discovery' makes franchise history with trans, nonbinary
Sept. 3, 2020, 6:51 AM PDT / Source: Reuters. By Variety. LOS ANGELES - In a first for the "Star Trek" franchise, characters who are gender-nonbinary and transgender will appear on the third ...
STAR TREK Adds First Non-Binary and Transgender Characters
Although Adira is the first non-binary actor to play a non-binary character, Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced a non-binary character and species in the episode "The Outcast.". That ...
Star Trek: Discovery: Trans, Non-Binary Characters Join Season 3
In a first for the 'Star Trek' franchise, gender non-binary and transgender characters will appear on Season 3 of 'Star Trek: Discovery.' Plus Icon Click to expand the Mega Menu Plus Icon Click to ...
'Star Trek: Discovery' Introduces First Non-Binary & Trans Characters
The third season of CBS All Access ' Star Trek: Discovery will introduce the first non-binary and transgender characters in Gene Roddenberry's iconic franchise that celebrates diversity via a ...
Blu del Barrio on Playing 'Star Trek's First Non-Binary Character
Newcomer Blu del Barrio (pronouns: they/them) made their professional acting debut on Star Trek: Discovery as Adira, the franchise's first non-binary character, in the latest episode of the CBS ...
Star Trek to introduce first trans, nonbinary characters in Discovery
The third season of Star Trek: Discovery, due this October, will introduce the first major non-binary and transgender characters in the history of the Star Trek franchise, GLAAD announced ...
Star Trek to welcome first transgender character
Sci-fi franchise Star Trek is set to introduce its first transgender and non-binary characters. The characters are to appear in the third series of Star Trek: Discovery, producers said on ...
Star Trek: Discovery adds first transgender and nonbinary characters
In the upcoming third season of the CBS All Access show, fans will meet the Star Trek universe's first non-binary character: Adira, played by newcomer Blu del Barrio. The character is described ...
'Star Trek: Discovery' Adds First Transgender, Non-Binary Characters
Star Trek: Discovery will make franchise history with its upcoming third season, by way of the Star Trek universe's first-ever transgender and non-binary characters.. TVLine has learned that Ian ...
'Star Trek: Discovery' to introduce history-making non-binary and
CBS All Access on Wednesday announced that Season 3 of "Star Trek: Discovery" will introduce non-binary and transgender characters, who will be the first in the franchise's history.
Discovery Season 3 Adds Star Trek's First Non-Binary & Transgender
Blu Del Barrio and Ian Alexander have been cast as non-binary and transgender characters, respectively, on Star Trek: Discovery season 3. The show's season 1, which was the first original live-action series in the Star Trek universe in almost 15 years when it launched in 2017, was well-received and followed it up with a season 2 that was hailed for its attempts to connect it more closely to ...
Star Trek: Discovery adds first non-binary, transgender characters to
Now, with a pair of casting announcements for Star Trek: Discovery 's third season, the franchise will continue that legacy with Star Trek 's first non-binary and transgender characters. Playing these characters are actors Blu del Barrio and Ian Alexander (who also helped break ground with his performance in The Last of Us Part II ), respectively.
Star Trek Adds First Non-Binary and Transgender Main Characters
Alexander will portray Star Trek' s first transgender character while del Barrio will play the first non-binary main character in the franchise's history. Both del Barrio and Alexander will make ...
'Star Trek: Discovery' adds new non-binary and transgender characters
1:18. The "Star Trek" universe will soon include both non-binary and transgender characters. On Wednesday, CBS All Access announced that "Star Trek: Discovery" will add the roles of Adira, an ...
'Star Trek: Discovery' Will Introduce First Non-Binary And ...
The non-binary character Adira, (Blu del Barrio), and the transgender character, a trans man named Gray (Ian Alexander), will both debut in the third season of Star Trek: Discovery, the currently ...
Star Trek Discovery's Non-Binary Character Is Essential Representation
Soft Sci-Fi, Explained. Adira's character joined the show in 2020, played by non-binary actor, Blu Del Barrio, and has since received lots of positive feedback. The way that Adira is introduced ...

Star Trek: Discovery Introduces First Transgender and Non-Binary Characters

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