Star Trek, from its very inception, has always told us that representation matters. In last week’s episode five of Star Trek: Discovery, “Choose Your Pain,” that moment finally came – as the closing scene showed science officer Lt. Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) brushing his teeth next to his partner, the ship’s resident physician, Lt. It was a subtle moment long overdue to the franchise – Rodenberry first mentioned gay characters would be introduced on Star Trek: The Next Generation in a 1987 interview – that its importance was deeply felt by Cruz himself. “As a fan of the franchise, I count myself among the countless LGBTQ fans who have longed to see themselves and our relationships depicted on Star Trek,” Cruz told me. Discovery is making every attempt to right the wrongs of previously marginalized character types – and it’s a fact not lost on Cruz.

Source: Huffington Post October 27, 2017 00:45 UTC