https://collider.com/star-trek-voyager-lgbtq-character-kate-mulgrew/
Despite breaking barriers as a female captain, Star Trek: Voyager's Kate Mulgrew couldn't convince the producers to introduce an LGBTQ+ character.
And Rick the Dick Berman said fuck no, in fact here's a blonde bombshell in a catsuit. Fuck you.
What's funny is the "blonde bombshell in a catsuit" turned out to be one of the best characters on the show.
The episode that really nailed down what a talented actor Jeri Ryan is was the time she had all those assimilated personalities surface and was switching back and forth rapidly, and the bit where the Doctor "took over" her body when they were in prison.
Both times, it was absolutely believable that someone else was at the wheel, and "Seven" wasn't there.
And also the time she thought she was a ballroom singer. And the moment she switches back to seven you can see it in the way she stands.
Who turned out to be gay in Picard but Berman didn’t have anything to do with that I believe.
I didn't think she's gay, probably more pansexual. She had a pretty weird upbringing, if you'll recall, so her sexuality is more like "gender is irrelevant."
While I absolutely do not want to defend Rick Berman, I also think it's important to acknowledge that his brand of assholishness was not unique (and, frankly, still isn't).
To be fair the blonde bombshell in a catsuit was initially nonbinary.
And then Janeway immediately gave it conversion therapy and told it to be a woman.
I think their are two bridge crew members where it could have been interesting if either was gay.
The first is Tovok. Having a Vulcan show its illogical to deny attraction to the same sex would be fun. The downside here is how reserved the character is, so it likely wouldn't come up all that often in the show.
The second is Harry Kim. It would have been fun for him to be interested in Tom but Tom has no interest in him that way. We'd get a few episodes, may even a season of Harry pining for him before giving up and ending up best friends. Then we get Tom trying to set Harry up with people.
I don't even think either of these would have changed things much overall.
Tuvok has been with another man and didn't want it to stop. I mean, it was a transporter accident, but still.
As a cishet white male who dislikes Voyager, I would absolutely have enjoyed a clueless straight Tom Paris trying to set gay Harry up.
Instead he turned into a fish and kidnapped Janeway to, and I will be very gracious to the writing staff here, have consensual offspring with her.
Why did I tell myself I needed to watch that show? Worst trek. 😢
Edit: Also, good on Kate Mulgrew for being way more Star Trek than most by advocating for inclusion. I do like Janeway.
One of the reasons that Voyage's writing is so terrible is because all of the good ideas got knocked back. For example the ship was supposed to get progressively more damaged over time, patched up with improvised repairs. That's why the engineer was a Marquee, because they were used to having to do that sort of thing so they'd have experience that Starfleet engineers wouldn't have. That's why she was promoted over a Starfleet engineer. In the rewrite none of that comes through and it looks a bit pointless.
But they decided that was too expensive, so they didn't do it. In all fairness to them with the special effects they had at the time, it would have been extremely expensive, but it would have made the show so much better.
Yeah. They were supposed to have a year of hell. The best they could do was a two parter where everything went back to normal in the end.
Crew romance doesn't play a big role in Voyager tbh, gay or not. The only proper relationship we see fleshed out is between B'Elanna and Tom Paris. We hear about Tuvok's wife, Janeway's fiance, and whatever that is between Seven and Chakotay.
It will be interesting to see Harry dating men but I don't see a pairing on the bridge.
'Resolutions' called, it wants to build up a relationship between Janeway and Chakotay and then throw it away never to be heard from again.
Dude, Harry and Tuvok were not just friends. They just don’t show what happens off shift in some obscure corner of the lower decks.
By ChatGPT:
Tuvok: Ensign Kim, your dedication to your duties is truly impressive. I must admit, I find myself looking forward to our conversations more than I expected.
Harry Kim: Thanks, Tuvok. Your guidance means a lot to me. There's something about our talks that feels different. It's like we're on the same wavelength.
Tuvok: Indeed, Harry. I sense a connection between us that goes beyond our roles on this ship. It's a puzzle that intrigues me.
Harry Kim: I feel it too, Tuvok. It's like we have this unspoken understanding that's hard to put into words. I've been thinking about it a lot lately.
Tuvok: Perhaps it's time we acknowledge this connection and explore it further. How about we have dinner in the astrometrics lab tomorrow evening?
Harry Kim: I'd love that, Tuvok. I've been hoping for a chance to get to know you better outside of work. Tomorrow evening sounds perfect.
Tuvok: Excellent. I'm looking forward to it, Harry. The idea of spending more time together and unraveling this mysterious bond between us is quite appealing.
(They share a smile, their unspoken feelings now out in the open, as they finalize plans for their upcoming date in the secluded corner of the lower decks of the USS Voyager.)
I think they'd be more likely to say homosexuality is illogical and repress it. Could make an interesting plot point.
Versus "suppressing our emotions - the thing we do constantly which essentially defines our species - is illogical". I really don't see that making sense in universe.
I think they'd be more likely to say homosexuality is illogical and repress it. Could make an interesting plot point.
The converse is that making a specific distinction based on sexuality like that is also illogical in what is supposedly the enlightened 24th century Federation.
They're not the ancients of the 21st century, who would be so concerned with such primitive things.
gay pon farr episode when
But I'm pretty sure Vulcans could get into a bit of hardcore repression of sexuality, only having sex for procreation kind of thing. Very in keeping with their characterisation!
Maybe that's why he had such bad luck with women. He probably didn't even figure it out himself until he was back home and finally got a promotion.