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.

FULL ARTICLE: https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/star-trek-discovery-trans-non-binary-characters-1234757191/

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