‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Features Franchise’s First Gay Male Kiss

Star Trek: Discovery featured the franchise’s first gay male kiss on Sunday’s episode.

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY FEATURES FRANCHISE’S FIRST GAY MALE KISS

The kiss took place between Lt. Stamets, played by Anthony Rapp, and Dr. Hugh Culber, played by Wilson Cruz. The pair have been a flirty couple all season, so it was about time for their lips to lock onscreen.

Queer director Q. Allan Brocka tweeted a clip of the moment and said, “Out gay men kissing on Star Trek. ❤️ You #BoldlyGo @wcruz73 & @albinokid 🏳️‍🌈🖖.” Cruz, who gained fame for his groundbreaking role as a gay man on My So-Called Life, shared Brocka’s enthusiastic tweet. “Once more with feeling,” he wrote.

Star Trek has been pushing cultural boundaries since its start, and actually featured the first interracial ever shown on television – between Capt. Kirk and Lt. Uhura on the original series. A 1995 episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine featured the first gay female kiss, and Discovery took the honor of the first gay male kiss. And in the latter’s case, the two characters will in a committed, same-sex relationship, which has not yet been seen on a Star Trek series.

Cruz took to Facebook to address the few negative reactions that the kiss garnered among all the supportive comments. “I’m going to say this once and post it here for anyone who has an issue. I won’t be spending my time arguing with the few. I’m focusing on the love,” the actor wrote. “I’m not here for your comfort. That’s not why we are here. We’re here to grow. Star Trek is and has always been here to challenge you to look outside of yourself and to see other people and other experiences in yourself. There is no division between you and me. I am just another human giving and receiving love, just like you. That is all.”