Welcome to Trans Tuesday! By now you likely know that I live and breathe Star Trek, and so it’s such an absolute joy to take you through THE INTENTIONAL (?!) TRANS ALLEGORY OF STRANGE NEW WORLDS’ AD ASTRA PER ASPERA, part 1: context and diving in by timestamps!
If you’re new to Star Trek, a quick primer: each of the shows basically follows a crew on a starship (or space station, or soon at the academy) and their adventures in “seeking out new life and new civilizations.”
They’re usually part of Starfleet, which is the group of ships and stations used for said exploration, and Starfleet is the exploratory and defense force of the Federation – which is a very large alliance of planets that have come together to work for the common good.
The Federation is largely a utopia, and the founding principles of the entire franchise are inclusion, diversity, compassion, and hope. You can maybe start to see why I love it.
All of these 800+ hours of movies and television have a shared continuity and history, and that can seem really daunting to folks. I’m here to tell you that if you’ve never watched any Star Trek before, fear not! This little primer and the episode itself that I’ll be discussing give you all the context you’ll need.
And the really cool thing is that Star Trek has almost become a sub-medium of its own within science-fiction, because it can hold compelling drama, goofy silliness, horror, legal drama, medical drama, action, outright comedy, war drama, thrillers, parody, and more. For every genre of story, Trek has incorporated it and made it work within its framework. It’s really remarkable.
And I’d be remiss if I did not take a second to mention that not only have Susan and I written for the Star Trek Adventures roleplaying game and consulted on season two of Star Trek Prodigy, we’re also writing a comic series! Star Trek Voyager: Homecoming is a five issue limited series that begins later this year, so you should definitely check. that. OUT. (we have a really fab story coming your way)
One little bit of in-universe history I will mention are the Eugenics Wars, which took place prior to the formation of the Federation. There were genetically modified humans, some of whom felt they were better than us regular ol’ humans and wanted to eradicate us.
As a result of that, the Federation banned genetic modifications entirely, in an effort to prevent the same thing from happening again. Whether that was right or wrong is something the episode we’ll be talking about covers, so more on that later.
The leader of the genetically modified people who started the Eugenics Wars was Khan Noonien-Singh (yes, the one from the Wrath of Khan movie you’ve undoubtedly heard the title of). I mention this only because one of Khan’s descendants is in the episode we’re going to discuss, but also because this episode heavily features a genetically modified character.
That character is Una Chin-Riley, who is not human (though she outwardly appears human), and is in fact an Illyrian. Most Illyrians are genetically modified, which is something the episode itself, and its “previously on,” will explain. Una is the first officer on board the Enterprise, the very same one from the original Star Trek with Kirk and Spock. This show predates the original series chronologically.
But know that Illyrians, as a species, are this episode’s stand-in for trans people in the allegory.
Unlike what I talked about in my deep-dives into THE MATRIX¸ BARBIE, I SAW THE TV GLOW, and even REAL GENIUS, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has its own visual language, color palette, and look and feel that each episode needs to conform to outside of the allegory this specific episode is telling.
As such, things like colors being metaphors can’t be used as easily, because costumes and bits of the sets have to maintain an appearance to match with all other episodes. Things like this are also why the unintentional (I think?) trans allegory of SILO season one also are more limited in the ways they can use visuals to convey allegory and metaphor.
Buuuuuuuuut there is one super important huge visual clue that has caused me to label this an intentional (I think?) trans allegory, and it happens pretty early on. Stay tuned!
You will find, much like with other trans allegories in media that I’ve discussed, that a lot of this episode applies to people of all marginalized communities. But it is also very specific in the transness of its allegory, which is what we’re gonna discuss.
The first time I saw this episode it rocked my world, as evidenced by a social media post I made the second I finished watching it, thanking the entire franchise and the episode’s writer.
As you can see from when I made that social media post, this episode aired during Pride month. While possibly not entirely planned (networks and studios set release dates), it’s quite possible (and I believe likely) that once they got their release schedule and saw episodes would release through June, someone somewhere worked to be sure this episode was among those released that month.
Okay! You’re primed, you’re ready, you’re hopefully excited!
Let’s gooooooooooooooooooooo!
1:07 – Flashbacks. “She needs a hospital. Her leg isn’t healing.” “It will.” This is young Una, hurt, and note right here that her parents didn’t just take her to get medical care even though she clearly needs it. Why do you think that would be? It gets discussed later, but this is your first clue that Una (and her people) have to deal with things other folks might not think twice about.
1:11 – Okay so when I said the one visual that made me believe this is an intentional allegory was early in the episode, I wasn’t kidding. Here it is!
Did you miss it? Lemme lighten it up and zoom in for you.
So. Y’know. You’ve seen the trans pride flag, right? I mean, right?
The buckle on Una’s brace isn’t just in trans pride flag colors, it is literally the trans pride flag with an extra pink stripe on top and bottom.
I say it in every trans allegory discussion I do, but everything in a movie or tv show is a choice. And yes coincidences or happy accidents might happen, but it’s still a choice to leave them in (or remove them from) the final product.
But do you think the production designer and prop folks coincidentally made a buckle for a leg brace that looks like that? Not even just in blue, pink, and white, but with a literal trans flag on it? Have you ever seen a strap that looks like that anywhere if it wasn’t part of an intentionally trans pride-colored item? Do you think it’s a coincidence that this strap made it through to the finished version of this episode?
And do you think it’s a coincidence that this happened in an episode that is very, very clearly (as you will see) discussing trans people?
BECAUSE I SURE DON’T.
It’s also important that you see this strap as part of that leg brace, which is there because of Una’s wound. Because there’s something about Una’s wound that’s something only Illyrians (trans people) have, so this is showing you right up front that the difference Una (and Illyrians) have from humans (and other non-Illyrian species in the Federation) is their transness. This is setting up that metaphor and all the heavy lifting it’s gonna do for the rest of the episode.
1:15 – “If we go to the hospital, they might see her fighting infection. They’ll run tests to find out.” And what will those tests show, do you think?
1:31 – Una’s leg glows, she is “different” physically. “Look, if we go to the hospital now, they’ll see, and we’ll lose everything. Her life will be ruined, all of ours.” So Una’s physical difference (the glowing, representative of a physical marker that she’s trans… say, perhaps genitalia that you wouldn’t expect to find on a cis girl) will be found by the doctors, and they would lose everything.
Here’s where some of that earlier context helps, because remember genetic engineering is outlawed in the Federation due to the Eugenics Wars, and what you might not know yet is that basically all Illyrians are genetically modified (for reasons that are revealed later).
So Illyrians simply being who they are is against the law. Ring any bells?
1:46 – Back with adult Una, in trouble because she’s been outed. “Starfleet would like to offer a deal. Plead guilty to knowingly submitting false information to Starfleet by failing to disclose your genetic modification status, and we’ll accept dishonorable dismissal. No prison time.” Look how generous they are, “no prison time.” We won’t even throw you in jail for not disclosing your truth so we could kick you out earlier. “Dishonorable” dismissal.
For the crime of being different.
2:06 – Captain Batel: “Starfleet is willing to seal your records and look the other way.” Una: “They want to cover up their mistake.” And she’s right, they do. Because if word got out that a genetically modified Illyrian had been serving for a very long time with zero issues, that would sure pull the rug out from under their belief that genetically modified people are evil, wouldn’t it?
2:15 – Batel: “Una, you don’t want to drag this out. And you don’t want others to get dragged in.” Ooh, listen, if you don’t do what we want then all the allies who helped you are gonna get in trouble too. You wouldn’t want that, would you?
2:33 – Batel: “Take some time, talk it over with your counsel.” Una: “How can he counsel me when he works for you?” The people working for our oppressors aren’t our friends, even if they claim to be. They don’t understand us, they don’t know what it’s like to be us, and if they’re, say, voting for people who would oppress us, they are not and cannot be our friends. See TRANS POLITICS 2: YOU MUST VOTE TO PROTECT US.
3:33 – Captain Pike’s trying to get one of Una’s own people, Neera, to represent her as legal counsel, and though it is dangerous and possibly even life-threatening for him to do this (due to the atmosphere being inhospitable to humans), he will not give up. Because he is an accomplice and will not let his crew member and friend lose her rights, even though it doesn’t come without danger.
Standing up for us and fighting for us does indeed paint a target on cis allies’ backs, even though they’re far more likely to be listened to than we are, and far less likely to suffer repercussions (which is why we need them so badly). If you’re not standing close enough to us that the bricks thrown at us hit you too, you’re not standing close enough. See PROACTIVE ALLYSHIP (be an accomplice) for more.
3:56 – The room’s air is changed so Pike can breathe in it, and it saves him. Illyrians represent no threat and don’t want to hurt anyone, they just experience life differently. Just like trans people.
4:15 – Pike explains how Illyrians have been genetically modified to be able to live in the Vaultera Nebula, and Neera says, “You think that would allow us a measure of privacy.” Note that their genetic modifications were a necessity for them to survive. And they just wanted to be left alone in peace, but here’s a cis person waltzing right in (at least Pike has noble goals).
Many trans people who feel they can’t transition don’t make it to old age. This is not true for every trans person, because you can be trans without experiencing GENDER DYSPHORIA, but also not every trans person makes it to old age due to the violence and oppression we face, and how difficult life can be made for us.
4:31 – Pike says Una needs Neera’s help because Starfleet Command found out Una’s Illyrian (and thus genetically modified). Neera: “It was only a matter of time before she was outed. Starfleet will never let an Illyrian serve. Not openly. But that is not my problem…” Yeah things suck for trans people out there, but this one lawyer literally cannot save all of them, much less one she has personal beef with, and she doesn’t think changing the system is possible.
4:55 – Pike: “I know why you feel the way you do about Starfleet, the Federation, all of us. I saw some things. On a research mission to an abandoned Illyrian colony, we found out that it wasn’t so… abandoned. I saw what can happen to Illyrians who reverse their genetic modification just so the Federation will accept them.” People who detransition just to be accepted by cis society go back to living in a waking death, if they can even continue living at all.
And yes, some detransitioners are cis people who made a mistake (which shouldn’t be held against trans people), but most people who detransition do so because life as an out trans person was made too difficult for them to cope with. And those trans people, who detransition just so cis people will accept them, live a horrible miserable “life.” And if that’s something you’d ask anyone to do just to get your approval, well.
What the fuck is wrong with you?
5:13 – Pike: “Old fears can be hard to let go of, but we were wrong about Illyrians. All of us. I was wrong.” Neera: “Congratulations. You discovered empathy. Let me know when the rest of your Federation catches up.” Individuals can wake up to the false cis binary matrix once they see it for themselves (do check out my book whydontcha), but changing society is a much bigger hill to climb.
5:34 – Pike: “They’re going to dismiss her. Everything she’s strived for, her life’s work, her entire career. Everything that she’s contributed.” Neera: “…Starfleet race laws are draconian.” This is something The Matrix discusses at multiple points through the franchise, how we’re all rewarded for conforming to the cis binary, and punished the second we don’t.
7:19 – Neera goes to see Una, who’s being held until trial. Neera: “I told you this would happen.” Una: “After 25 years the first thing you say to me is ‘I told you so?’” Neera never believed the system of oppression would change, so Una getting “caught” is what she always expected would happen.
7:33 – Neera asks for Una’s version of the story. Una: “Until two months ago, my record with Starfleet was spotless. When they didn’t know, they didn’t care. The only thing that’s changed is that they know the truth.” Right, because Illyrians (and trans people) can be valued people who contribute to society without issue, because we are not the problem.
Neera: “And that you lied about it. Must be nice… some Illyrians have modifications they can’t hide, and some of us refuse to.” This is referring to going stealth (trans people letting everyone think they’re cis), which used to be known as “woodworking,” and was required by draconian rules set up to force us to conform to compulsory cisgender heterosexuality. See MISGENDERING AND PASSING and TRANSMEDICALISM (and WPATH version 1) for more.
And it’s not something every trans person can do, even if they wanted to. Some of us just don’t look like cis people of our gender, and that’s okay. I don’t pass and I don’t want to. And none of us should feel we have to just so society will leave us alone. And some of us, even if we wanted to pass as cis, simply can’t due to the way our bodies are. Some of us don’t have that privilege.
Una: “So then somebody turned me in, and now Starfleet is asking me to hide again, so that no one has to know an Illyrian climbed the ranks of Starfleet. It’ll be like it never happened. Like I never happened.” Erasure of our existence has been the primary goal of our transphobic society since its inception. See TRANS TRAUMA 2: SOCIETAL GASLIGHTING.
8:14 – Neera: “You had your playtime, acting like one of them. Accept your dismissal, take your licks and go home.” Neera has no sympathy for someone who would hide their truth simply so those who oppress us will like us better. It’s a really hard thing to deal with, because when you hide your transness, regardless of the reason (some of which, like for safety, are totally valid), you are still in essence confirming that transness is something that should be hidden. That it’s shameful. That it’s wrong.
And it also makes it appear as if there are less of us in the world, and you rob every trans person who’s not out yet, or who hasn’t discovered that they’re trans yet, of seeing you out and proud, which helps them think they can do it too. All of us who are out publicly have trans people who came before us and inspired us in that way. I thanked all the trans women (and especially trans women writers) who helped me do those things in the very first Trans Tuesday when I came out. And in the back of my book.
I have more compassion for trans folks who go stealth than Neera does, but her stance is justified and understandable. It’s complicated and difficult.
And none of that would even be an issue if it weren’t for transphobic society and all the cis people who perpetuate it.
Una: “…I shouldn’t have to hide anymore. None of us should. I know I should have done better. I didn’t stand up when I should have. I’m standing up now.” Well, if that doesn’t just say it all.
8:43 – Neera takes the case. “I’m not doing this for you, I’m doing it for me. And for all the Illyrians who can’t or just won’t pretend to not be who they really are… so they can run away to Starfleet.” Despite her reservations at changing the system, Neera knows that the only way it will ever change is to fight it. Even when it seems impossible.
We’ll wrap it there for this week. Next week we dive into the hypocrisy of (some) cis people, the damage society does to us (and then blames us for), and see that no matter how much we good we do and contribute to society… none of it will save us from the oppression we face.
Because it’s not really about us.
Tilly Bridges, end transmission.
tillysbridges@gmail.com