Star Trek: Discovery To Introduce Franchise-First Non-Binary And Trans Characters

CBS All Access has announced that Season 3 of Star Trek: Discovery will be making franchise history by introducing non-binary and transgender characters. Blu del Barrio is a non-binary actor who will be playing Adira, who so far has only been described as "highly intelligent" and someone who forms "an unexpected bond with Lt. Commander Paul Stamets and Dr. Hugh Culber."

The show will also be introducing Gray, played by 19-year-old Ian Alexander (The OA), a trans man character who has been described by the network as "empathetic" and being dealt a setback to which "he will have to adapt when his life takes an unexpected turn."

"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," Michelle Paradise, co-showrunner and executive producer, said in a statement. "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."

Speaking with Variety, Del Barrio said, "When I got the call that I'd been cast as Adira, I hadn't yet told the majority of my friends and family that I was non-binary. I had only recently discovered the word and realized that it described how I'd felt for a long time. I knew I wanted to tell my friends and family, so when this happened, it felt like the universe saying 'go ahead.'"

Star Trek: Discovery's third season will premiere on CBS All Access on October 15. The show began in 2017, and has been part of a recent resurgence and expansion for the Star Trek franchise, including the upcoming Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Section 31, and the recent animated Star Trek: Lower Decks.