The Star Trek franchise is set to introduce its first nonbinary and trans characters in the upcoming season of Star Trek: Discovery. Producers announced on Wednesday that two of the new characters, Gray, played by trans actor Ian Alexander and Adira, played by nonbinary actor Blu del Barrio, are both gender-nonconforming.
What’s refreshing about this representation is that trans and nonbinary characters will be played by actors who share their identities.
Blu del Barrio was in their final year of studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art when they auditioned for the role of Adira. Del Barrio has been acting in theater and short films since the age of 7, and they’ve expressed tremendous excitement to make their TV debut in Season Three of Discovery.
In an interview with GLADD, del Barrio said, “When I got the call that I’d been cast as Adira, I hadn’t told the majority of my friends and family that I was nonbinary. So, when this happened, it felt like the universe saying, ‘go ahead.'”
Alexander, 19, has experience with playing sci-fi characters from his role in the Netflix series The OA, and according to CBS is the first openly trans, Asian-American actor to appear on television. He’s also known for his role as Lev in Naughty Dog’s video game The Last of Us Part II. Alexander is an advocate for trans equality, racial justice, and mental health awareness for LGBTQ youth.
“[Star Trek] believes in showing people that a future without division on the basis of race, gender, or sexual orientation is entirely within our reach,” said the show’s co-runner and executive producer Michelle Paradise.
Discovery, which will begin again in October on CBS, previously featured the franchise’s first married, same-sex couple while leading actress Sonequa Martin-Green made history as the show’s first black female lead protagonist.
Anthony Rapp, who plays Lt. Stamets, tweeted, “I cannot wait for you all to meet these beautiful souls and wonderful artists. I am so so proud of them and happy that they are a part of our show.”
