Changes

An early episode of ''TNG'', "Blood and Fire," was intended to be an allegory for AIDS and was to feature homosexual characters. It was never produced, but went on to be used in the fan-produced ''Star Trek: Phase II''.<ref>http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2013/09/11/tv-legends-revealed-star-trek-tng-wouldnt-air-episode-with-gay-crewmen/</ref> Roddenberry repeatedly promised to broach the issue in later seasons but never did before his death. Notably, Whoopi Goldberg attempted to use [[politically correct]], gender-neutral language when explaining sexuality but was rebuffed. She said, "This show is beyond that. It should be 'When two people are in love.'" And so it was decided on set that one of the tables in the background should have two men holding hands — or two women, or whatever. But someone ran to a phone and made a call to the Paramount production office and that was nixed. [Producer] David Livingston came down and made sure that didn’t happen."<ref name=salon />

An early episode of ''TNG'', "Blood and Fire," was intended to be an allegory for AIDS and was to feature homosexual characters. It was never produced, but went on to be used in the fan-produced ''Star Trek: Phase II''.<ref>http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2013/09/11/tv-legends-revealed-star-trek-tng-wouldnt-air-episode-with-gay-crewmen/</ref> Roddenberry repeatedly promised to broach the issue in later seasons but never did before his death. Notably, Whoopi Goldberg attempted to use [[politically correct]], gender-neutral language when explaining sexuality but was rebuffed. She said, "This show is beyond that. It should be 'When two people are in love.'" And so it was decided on set that one of the tables in the background should have two men holding hands — or two women, or whatever. But someone ran to a phone and made a call to the Paramount production office and that was nixed. [Producer] David Livingston came down and made sure that didn’t happen."<ref name=salon />

Despite the absence of major homosexual characters, several storylines have indirectly depicted homosexual and other relationships in a positive, or at the very least ambiguous light. For example, in ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', Commander William Riker (presumed heterosexual from a previous relationship with Deanna Troi) falls in love with an individual from an androgynous race.<ref>''The Outcast'', originally aired Mar. 16, 1992.</ref>

Despite the absence of major homosexual characters, several story lines have indirectly depicted homosexual and other relationships in a positive, or at the very least ambiguous light. For example, in ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', Commander William Riker (presumed heterosexual from a previous relationship with Deanna Troi) falls in love with an individual from an androgynous race.<ref>''The Outcast'', originally aired Mar. 16, 1992.</ref>

In ''DS9'', Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax (a [[Trill]], a being comprising a humanoid host of a member of another, asexual, species) briefly resumes a relationship with a wife from a previous lifetime (a male host of the same symbiont), and they are shown kissing on screen.<ref>''Rejoined'', originally aired Oct. 30, 1995.</ref>

In ''DS9'', Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax (a [[Trill]], a being comprising a humanoid host of a member of another, asexual, species) briefly resumes a relationship with a wife from a previous lifetime (a male host of the same symbiont), and they are shown kissing on screen.<ref>''Rejoined'', originally aired Oct. 30, 1995.</ref>

The transporters, being developed at the time of ''Enterprise'', disassemble and reassemble inanimate and animate things, including people, allowing them to be transported over moderate distances.  For example, transporters are frequently used to send people from a spaceship in orbit to the surface of a planet and return.

The transporters, being developed at the time of ''Enterprise'', disassemble and reassemble inanimate and animate things, including people, allowing them to be transported over moderate distances.  For example, transporters are frequently used to send people from a spaceship in orbit to the surface of a planet and return.

Replicators, introduced in ''The Next Generation'' use similar technology to fabricate inanimate objects from a molecular or atomic level. This includes spare parts for the ships. Specialised food replicators can fabricate a wide variety of food, which is suitable for everyday use, but can on occasions not be quite as good as the real thing.

Replicators, introduced in ''The Next Generation'' use similar technology to fabricate inanimate objects from a molecular or atomic level. This includes spare parts for the ships. Specialized food replicators can fabricate a wide variety of food, which is suitable for everyday use, but can on occasions not be quite as good as the real thing.

Holodecks and holosuites (the latter on ''Deep Space Nine'') are rooms containing holoprojectors that project holographic images with solidity, allowing people to interact with the images.  A computer controls the images, which includes holographic people who appear just like real people.

Holodecks and holosuites (the latter on ''Deep Space Nine'') are rooms containing holoprojectors that project holographic images with solidity, allowing people to interact with the images.  A computer controls the images, which includes holographic people who appear just like real people.

* The [[Klingon]] language has been developed as a complete [[constructed language|artificial language]].

* The [[Klingon]] language has been developed as a complete [[constructed language|artificial language]].

* The first [[space shuttle]], ''Enterprise'', was named for the ship in [[Star Trek (original series)|the original series]].

* The first [[space shuttle]], ''Enterprise'', was named for the ship in [[Star Trek (original series)|the original series]].

==External links==

==External links==

*Essay 6: [[Essay:Future in and of Star Trek|The future in, and of, ''Star Trek'']]

*Essay 6: [[Essay:Future in and of Star Trek|The future in, and of, ''Star Trek'']]

[[Category:Star Trek| ]]

[[Category:Star Trek| ]]