Gays might have saved "Star Trek"
by Christopher Curtis

"On Friday, May 13, "Star Trek: Enterprise" docked for good, after being canceled by the United Paramount Network (UPN). While the creators of the series said they did everything to keep it afloat, there's one thing they did not do that would have ensured the science fiction franchise's survival: introduce a gay character.

"...but there was just no room on the starship for a lesbian or a gay man.
To give you an idea of how galling that is, consider the original "Star Trek" series, which aired from 1966 to 1969. America's attention was focused on the Cold War, the sexual revolution, women's rights and civil rights.

"This absurdity may have been a phaser shot at the future of "Star Trek." Here was a series that promised humanity would conquer its prejudices, only to fall victim to the prejudice of homophobia by a glaring crime of omission.
The creator's intransigence not to include regular gay characters certainly hurt the show's core demographic -- not the teenage boys commonly associated with science fiction, but grown-up idealists.
While the science fiction enthusiasts could choose from a bevy of sci-fi staples, only "Star Trek" offered the hope of science fiction with a message. With that message on mute when it came to the most important social issue of the day, those idealists stopped tuning in, and "Star Trek'"s value as a vehicle for social commentary went from galactic proportions to anti-matter. "

I pretty much agree with everything Mr. Curtis says, except I think "Enterprise" was an awful show anyway and I'm not sure anything could have saved it. But I expected better from the franchise "that promised humanity would conquer its prejudices."
Take that, Star Wars freaks. (oh, I'll probably see the Sith movie, but not the week it comes out. Maybe when it gets to the Parkway).
- posted by k @ 4:04 PM