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

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.