Braga on Gays in Star Trek

It was a shame for a lot of us that … I’m talking about the Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and there was a constant back and forth about well how do we portray the spectrum of sexuality. There were people who felt very strongly that we should be showing casually, you know, just two guys together in the background in Ten Forward. At the time the decision was made not to do that and I think those same people would make a different decision now because I think, you know, that was 1989, well yeah about 89, 90, 91. I have no doubt that those same creative players wouldn’t feel so hesitant to have, you know, have been squeamish about a decision like that.

—Brannon Braga, the Star Trek writer and producer, on why the series never included a homo human nor alien life form

Source

They did have that episode on TNG with that androgynous race. That was their best attempt at a gay episode.

And I think they also had two women kiss on a episode involving a male trill host dying and was replaced with a female one.

From the franchise that brought you the first televised interracial kiss...

Now, what a lot of folks don't know was that they were originally going to film two versions, the one we know, and one in which they lean in but don't actually kiss, which was to be aired in the Southern states. Shatner would have none of that. Every time they tried to film the alternate version, he would cross his eyes or make a face. He was determined to disrupt any attempt to show any version other than the one with the kiss. And he won. The kiss was aired across the country.

Flash-forward to the filming of the TNG episode "The Outcast". It was decided that an all-female cast would best portray the androgynous J'naii. Frakes did not like this. He felt strongly that, not only should there be males mixed in, but that the role of Soren--a character he would kiss--should be played by a man.

Frakes did not cross his eyes.

Jadzia Dax and Dr. Lenara Kahn kissed in the DS9 episod "Rejoined," Wasn't that supposed to be the first actual Lesbian kiss on network TV? I remember they made a big fuss about it on the local news that night it aired.

I believe you're right. The American public has for some time been more amenable to seeing two women kiss than two men kiss.

If any of you are interested, check out Star Trek Phase II. It is a web based series that uses the same Star Trek TOS characters (played by different actors), that continues TOS "5 year mission" and tries to complete the extra 2-3 years of that 5 year mission, that were never shown due to the original series being canceled.
The whole series is shot in the actual original series sets, using Paramounts costumes and bridge and other ship interiors from TOS.

A lot of the writers from every incarnation of the show work on Phase II, inlcuding writers from TNG. A lot of original cast members have reprised roles on Phase II as well. Walter Koenig. George Takei. Denise Crosby. etc etc.

One episode originally intended for TNG has been re-written and used for Phase II. It involves Captain Kirk's nephew coming onboard the Enterprise, and he hooks up with a cute male blond crew member. It was an original story plot from TNG that never got aired after Paramount execs disapproved that it had to do with homosexuals.

Here is a link to the Phase II website, and the "gay" episode is "Blood and Fire"

Phase II is shot with Paramounts full permission and support.

http://www.startreknewvoyages.com/index.html

from Voyager they tried to work around it-kinda. Kes was inhabited by an alien mind which was male. the male had a wife but also decided to take a husband from an opposing faction-albeit in kes's body.

While there's been plenty of near misses, there's never been any real gay characters or gay romances in Star Trek.

http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Homosexual
http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/homosexuality.htm

Quote by MrBlueGrey

If any of you are interested, check out Star Trek Phase II. It is a web based series that uses the same Star Trek TOS characters (played by different actors), that continues TOS "5 year mission" and tries to complete the extra 2-3 years of that 5 year mission, that were never shown due to the original series being canceled.
The whole series is shot in the actual original series sets, using Paramounts costumes and bridge and other ship interiors from TOS.

A lot of the writers from every incarnation of the show work on Phase II, inlcuding writers from TNG. A lot of original cast members have reprised roles on Phase II as well. Walter Koenig. George Takei. Denise Crosby. etc etc.

One episode originally intended for TNG has been re-written and used for Phase II. It involves Captain Kirk's nephew coming onboard the Enterprise, and he hooks up with a cute male blond crew member. It was an original story plot from TNG that never got aired after Paramount execs disapproved that it had to do with homosexuals.

Here is a link to the Phase II website, and the "gay" episode is "Blood and Fire"

Phase II is shot with Paramounts full permission and support.

http://www.startreknewvoyages.com/index.html

Haven't thought about Phase II in a while, and never got to see it. I hear that the filming schedule is very heinous, like they can only get out one or two episodes a year, since it's mostly put together by folks who are doing this as a labour of love outside their everyday lives. Will totally have to check it out. (Oy, I'm really trekking out, I'm working my way through Enterprise and just discovered allstepisodes, so I'm going to be turning into a complete vidiot before long.)

Peace

There were so many missed opportunities. Every time that 2nd Leah Brahms episode comes on, I still want her to tell Geordi that she has to go answer the call from her wife, rather than her husband. Sigh.

I was hoping they'd actually do something with Lt. Hawk in First Contact. In the books he is supposed to be gay. When I found out that his character was going to be in that movie, I was really exited. Way to let me down, Star Trek.

http://www.towleroad.com/2011/01/star-trek.html

I don't know,part of me wants to trust this guy the other part is saying he's playing us. Trek has always been cuting edge. If the cast and crew wanted it done if they forced the issue it would have been

I like the Phase II webisodes, and I love the fact that paramount is allowing it to be shot. Also the fact that some of the TOS cast is in it sometimes as guest stars...I think the guy that plays Chekov is in it in one episode.

If you want to see another fan made Trek series with gay characters check out:
http://www.hiddenfrontier.com/