Anghus Houvouras on Sulu’s sexuality in Star Trek Beyond…
“God save us from people who mean well.” – Virkram Seth
Diversity has become such a buzz word and used so frequently that it has almost lost all value. All we hear about is the need for more diversity in entertainment, constantly berated with columns about Hollywood’s lack of multicultural creatives in front of and behind the camera. I’m by no means denying that there is merit in those observations. However, the well-intentioned diversity hawks are often so focused on diversification by any means necessary that they often miss the point by a country mile.
I’ve written on this subject before, most notable discussing the strange assertion that Black Panther needed a black director or that Wonder Woman needed a female director. This is the kind of thought process of well-intentioned people who believe themselves to be pro-diversity, when in reality they’re actually doing corrosive damage to the very idea of a world without labels. If we want to live in a world that is truly diverse, a woman would be directing a movie featuring a superhero with a penis and the race of the director behind the lens on Black Panther would be irrelevant.
Star Trek Beyond has been a marketing disaster since the first absolutely terrible trailer hit the internet. A series of subsequently uninteresting marketing materials have hit the web leading to a collective shrug. The most recent bit of publicity malfeasance came from a story about changes made with Sulu’s sexuality. Beyond co-writer Simon Pegg talked at length about introducing the idea that Sulu is in a same sex relationship to help further diversify the Enterprise Crew as well as a tribute to George Takei, the gay actor who originally played the role. While the gesture seemed harmless enough, Takei took umbrage saying that he didn’t care for the idea of retrofitting Sulu’s sexuality at the expense of the character and Gene Roddenberry’s original vision.
I’m sure Pegg was taken aback by Takei’s response. It’s the kind of blissful ignorance experienced by someone living in a politically correct bubble not realizing that making a character gay because the actor who first played him was gay is the kind of short sighted diversification band-aid that might not be appreciated by everyone.
Takei is spot on in his assessment. The Star Trek Beyond team found the laziest path between two points to try and pepper the franchise with some additional diversity. The idea that a character’s sexuality has been realigned to run parallel with a notable gay actor is the same kind of lazy thought process behind matching directors to characters with the same race and genitalia.
As I said, there’s nothing wrong with good intentions. Simon Pegg was making an honest attempt to introduce further diversification into a popular franchise with historical ties to breaking barriers. No one should rake him over the coals for his good intentions, but maybe future attempts at diversification shouldn’t be the product of historical revisionism.
Besides, we all know if anyone on the Enterprise was going to end up gay, it should have been Kirk. Chasing all those women? Always finding a way for his shirt to come off? Classic overcompensation.
Anghus Houvouras is a North Carolina based writer and filmmaker and the co-host of Across the Pondcast. Follow him on Twitter.
TheFandomMenace says
Star Trek has a long and distinguished history of being “politically correct” when some people would rather it didn’t. The very notion of including a high ranking African American and Asian on the bridge of the Enterprise in 1966 was nothing less than revolutionary at the time. But stations literally refused to air the episode in which Kirk and Uhura shared TV’s very first interracial kiss.
Star Trek has been well behind the times, however, in its inclusion of LGBT characters. Sulu’s sexuality has not been changed for political correctness’ sake. It is was never established what Sulu’s sexual orientation was. Star Trek Beyond is just establishing it as a matter of course now. At this time. In this timeline.
I find it interesting that the same voices crying “politically correct” are often the first to entirely miss the point of inclusion “by a country mile.” Inclusion is a reflection of the world we live in. It isn’t politically correct to feature people of color, women, the handicapped, people of different faiths, and sexual orientations in popular media. Excluding them is actually the most politically motivated impulse of them all.
anghus says
im all for inclusion. But i agree with Takei. I don’t think they considered what anyone wanted for the character and checked a box. I mean, Takei flat out said that this ‘gesture’ they made on his behalf wasn’t something he or Roddenberry would have wanted. So really, what kind of gesture was it?
I understand inclusion and how important it is to have representation in our mainstream media. However, i think lazily adding it in and identifying a character as gay rather than actually have an LGBT character who can be created and develop as part of the crew would be significantly better than going ‘Let’s see… let’s make Sulu gay because George Takei played him’ For me that was a cringe moment. Well-intentioned but anyone could see this playing out exactly as it did.
TheFandomMenace says
I do tend to agree with the idea of creating new original LGBT characters instead of grafting sexual orientation onto an existing one, but in this case, Pegg made a pretty strong argument against creating a new character in his rebuttle to Takei. In a 2-hour movie, the “new LGBT character” would be just that. Just a new token character. In a TV series, such a character would have a chance to develop as something more than a Token. By revealing that Sulu is gay, he’s already defined by things other than his sexual orientation. No straining muscles to pay anyone’s back. It’s presented matter-of-fact and no one in the story makes a big deal out of it. Which is how it should be. But obviously there are still people today who make a big deal out of it (on both sides of the issue) so there you go.
Phil K says
The mentality of the tiny minority of arrogant PC fools is slowly destroying Star Trek just as completely as your kind are destroying the comics world of DC and Marvel
(The latest lunacy is from DC calling a “devout muslim woman superhero” against racism and islamophobia is called (wait for it) ISIS……..yeah, the Egyptian Goddess…….but the Muslim one they worship is the psychotic blood drenched murderers in Syria “Isis”
TheFandomMenace says
It’s both sad and humorous that you think that Politicial Correctness or left leaning morality or whatever you want to call it is “destroying Star Trek.” You have exhibited a profound ignorance of the history of Star Trek in popular culture for the past 50 years. Star Trek has been pushing boundaries and upsetting conservatism for decades. You’re just new to the party.
John says
In “Star Trek: Generations,” it was revealed that Sulu had a family, and we met his daughter. While Sulu’s sexuality wasn’t mentioned, it seemed implied that he was straight.
Gary Nugent says
In the Mirror, Mirror TOS episode, Mirror Sulu leered at and made a suggestive remark to Prime Universe Uhura on the bridge. Not the behavior of a gay character. Takei has said he played him as a straight character.
TheFandomMenace says
That’s a faulty assumption at best. Many same sex couples today have families, children. It’s ridiculous to assume that people with children in the 23rd Century are all heterosexual.
John says
“Generations” was released 22 years ago. You really think that was the assumption back then? Plus, you realize that only 2% of people on the planet are homosexual. So, there was a 98% chance that Sulu was hetero. And, that’s somehow “ridiculous?” Okay.
Mja says
If you genuinely believe, if there was absolutely no stigma whatsoever in any culture on the planet, that only 2% of human beings would be out gays (not to mention all the bis and mostly-straight dabblers) then you’re part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Anghus, if you really think black men and all women would have absolutely equal shots at getting high-profile tentpole flicks if an occasional one wasn’t deliberately skewed towards them for reasons of subject matter and casting, then you might be, too.
Nobody says
SHUT YOUR NIGGERCUNTED SHITMAGGOT MOUTH YOU FILTHY FUCKING FAG!!!
TheFandomMenace says
George Takei has said that he and Gene envisioned Sulu as straight and that’s a pretty decent argument in itself. But since Sulu is gay in the alternate timeline his sexuality is no longer up for debate. Sorry that ruffles your feathers but hey, it’s just 2% of the world’s population so no biggie, right?
Phil K says
YOU and your fellow PC types want him gay.
The tail must wag the dog to please the arrogant demanding PC parasites who contribute nothing but chaos
TheFandomMenace says
Nah, he’s gay because he’s a fictional character and the writers established it as a fact. There is no “chaos” involved, except perhaps that the world order you want is something you can’t have. You can either deal with it or continue to complain and whine about it. I’m pretty sure I know which one you will choose.
WhiteJesus says
Time to S T F U, fundie.
BarryObama2014 says
You are one angry queer you must be dying of a.i.d.s. in some shithole
WhiteJesus says
Riiiight. You mad, fundie? LMAO.
Phil K says
Takei NEVER wanted them to alter Sulu’s leaning.
He believed his own way was his business. UNLIKE the arrogant PC fools destroying Roddenberrys work
gregmax68 says
Nonsense in too many words.
TheFandomMenace says
And you managed to say even less with even fewer words. Congratulations.
gregmax68 says
Nice quip. Don’t be a troll.
Phil K says
You’ve vomited up nothing by PC garbage
The kind who breathed life back into dying racism and homophobia
Brian Lambert says
Bologna. First off there were several references to Sulu liking women beginning with his flirtation with Janice Rand in Man Trap to him and Chekov chasing down Vixis in Star Trek V. Calling this an homage to Takei is as ridiculous as the “homage” that Into Darkness was supposed to be. Beyond is simply trying to monopolize on the fact George Takei is actually gay. There was no real thought put into this. Personally I detest political correctness. I think it’s for people that can’t handle the reality of the truth. Inclusion should never come in the form of a publicity stunt. Inclusion is simply showing a character as real and oh yeah gay not pointing out “Hey look what we did, go ahead and pat us on the back now.” Gay characters have been in the mainstream media for nearly two decades. The fans got so tired of waiting they took matters into their own hands with several fan films. Take a look at what and how they did it Pegg. You might actually learn something.
TheFandomMenace says
Bologna is an adorable way to begin a rant. I’m totally stealing that.
Richard says
Feel free. I just thought it was nicer and classier than calling Bullshit.
Phil K says
What twaddle.
To call the original series “politically correct” is ludicrous. All they did was say if people make an effort, they can advance regardless of colour or creed
NOT that they SHOULD be promoted because they feel it’s their “right” of being a crossdresser or gay or a whining woman who all demand that we accept they are as good as the best at the job, but NOT to be tested if they are. (Usual feminazi/gay/non-white crap)
Those taking your point are the ones demanding it in the first place.
You no doubt are a member of the aforementioned preferential whining set ?
kivenaberham says
yes. the right wing version of Political Correctness is a burning cross is in neon lights.
BarryObama2014 says
This movie is going to suck. And making Sulu hay is not only idiotic but disgusting
WhiteJesus says
Phuk off
BarryObama2014 says
Phuck you, and you know the movie will suck, we all did since the first time anyone saw the trailer.
WhiteJesus says
“We all”
HahahaHahahahahahahaha! Morons like you and your megalomaniacal ways. What a dumbphuk you must be.
John says
It’s just awkward. I think that’s the best adjective for it. Pegg had good intentions, but really didn’t think it through at all. And, he didn’t talk to Takei about it? Pretty weird.
Gary Nugent says
Pegg and Cho did talk to Takei about the idea and Takei said he didn’t think it was a good one and explained why. Pegg then ignored everything Takei said and went ahead with his idea anyway. He should not have been surprised that Takei was unhappy when news broke about Sulu’s gayness.
WhiteJesus says
Are you Ted’s brother? And how about your son’s gayness?
ReveurIngenu says
Thank you! Great, well-written article. Takei should be praised for his view on the subject because he is absolutely right.
gregmax68 says
“Laziest path between two points” defines the entire recent Star Trek effort.