One particularly progressive episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation addressed a hot-button topic in 1990. Since Star Trek: The Original Series premiered in 1966, the franchise has always been ahead of its time. With his optimistic view of the future, Gene Roddenberry created a universe where the Earth had achieved peace and used its resources to explore the galaxy. TNG expanded on this vision, picking up a century after TOS and following Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D.
Since its inception, Star Trek has held a mirror to society, addressing controversial topics, many of which remain relevant today. While some of Star Trek's social commentary proved more effective than others, the franchise has always tried to push boundaries and make people think. The science fiction trappings of Star Trek have allowed the franchise to tackle topics that networks might otherwise have banned. One of Lt. Commander Data's (Brent Spiner) best episodes, Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3, episode 16, "The Offspring," references a particularly polarizing topic when Data creates an android child.
Star Trek: TNG’s “The Offspring” Is Surprisingly Progressive Regarding Sexuality & Gender
Data Allows His Android Child To Choose Their Own Gender
In Star Trek: The Next Generation's "The Offspring," Data builds upon his positronic brain's technology to create an android child named Lal (Hallie Todd). When Data first activates Lal, who has an alien but humanoid form, he does not assign them a gender. Data invites Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), and Ensign Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) to be the first people to meet Lal. Data then allows Lal to choose their own species and gender, and they cycle through many choices before finally deciding to become a human female.
None of Data's fellow crew mates bat an eye regarding Lal's appearance or Data's decision to allow her to choose her own gender. However, it's doubtful that television networks of 1990 would have allowed a story about a human crew member who allowed their young child to choose their gender. Some networks today would hesitate to tell that story, as gender-affirming care for young people remains a controversial topic. "The Offspring" is widely regarded as one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's best episodes, but many reviews fail to acknowledge how progressive this element of the storyline was, even for Star Trek.
Modern Star Trek Continues To Celebrate Progress & Diversity
Star Trek Has Always Been Ahead Of Its Time
Star Trek entered the modern era of streaming television in 2017 with the premiere of Star Trek: Discovery. With an incredibly talented cast led by Sonequa Martin-Green as Commander Michael Burnham, Discovery was the most diverse Star Trek show to date. Star Trek: Discovery introduced the first gay married couple in the franchise, as well as Star Trek's first nonbinary and transgender characters. Star Trek shows have continued to push boundaries and adapt their social commentary to the time period in which they were made.
In the original script for Star Trek: TNG 's "The Offspring," Guinan explained human sexuality to Lal by saying something about "a man and woman" being in love. Whoopi Goldberg reportedly objected to the gendered line, pointing out that the Federation of the 24th century would be more diverse than that.
Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Prodigy, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds have also continued this trend. All of these shows are undeniably Star Trek, not only incorporating elements of Trek's long history, but also upholding one of Star Trek's greatest strengths: "infinite diversity in infinite combinations." Indeed, diversity and progress have always been core tenets of Star Trek. After all, Star Trek: The Next Generation aired one of the franchise's most progressive episodes back in 1990.
