Anthony Rapp Plays the First Openly Gay Character on Star Trek!
Entertainment Weekly brought us the first look into Star Trek’s first openly gay character in the whole 51 years, and he’s played by Rent’s Anthony Rapp! His role? An anastromycologist, or fungus expert.
“We’re at a point in time where people aren’t defined by their sexuality,” said Aaron Harberts, showrunner on the series along with Gretchen J. Berg. “What’s fascinating about the character is that when we meet him we don’t know who or what he is. He’s so super specific, he’s persnickety and difficult and brilliant, and he isn’t going to give an inch and he has very strong feelings about why he’s on the Discovery. We wanted to roll out that character’s sexuality the way people would roll out their sexuality in life.”
Anthony said to EW: “I’m really excited and happy when a gay character is a part of a story — especially when a gay character is created in a complex and human and non-stereotypical, interesting way, and that has certainly been the case with Stamets. And you get to see his relationship. There was a little glimpse in Sulu in Beyond, and it was a nice nod. But in this case, we actually get to see me with my partner in conversation, in our living quarters, you get to see our relationship over time, treated as any other relationship would be treated.”