Star Trek tv show will include gay character

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY will follow the latest film’s lead by having gay representation on a number of fronts.

These revelations were made at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, where show runner Bryan Fuller offered the clearest glimpse yet of the newest Star Trek incarnation.

Fuller had hinted in the past that he intended to continue the franchise’s long standing tradition of pushing boundaries and that’s something he seems to have made good on in the upcoming television series.

“We’re absolutely having a gay character,” Fuller said, according to TVLine.

The openly gay writer went on to detail the hate letters he got during his previous stint on another Star Trek writing staff, after a rumour began to swirl that a well loved character was gay. Fuller kept the letters to remind him of the importance of having representation.

The Hollywood Reporter has also confirmed that one of the show’s male leads will be brought to life by an openly gay actor.

Fuller discussed the influence of the franchise’s diverse past.

“Star Trek started with wonderful expression of diversity in its cast: a Russian, a black woman, an Asian, a Vulcan … we’re continuing that tradition and our lead of the show is going to be subject of that same level of who is the best actor and what can we say about diversity in every role we’ll have on the show,” Fuller said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

This comes after Star Trek: Beyond introduced the franchise’s first gay character last month.

Star Trek: Discovery will be available to stream in Australia on Netflix in January next year.