Pocket has developed a line of eBooks called STAR TREK: STARFLEET CORPS OF ENGINEERS (S.C.E.). It chronicles the adventures of Starfleet's "tech geeks" on the U.S.S. da Vinci, under the command of Captain David Gold and Commander Sonya Gomez (the latter from the TNG episodes "Q Who" and "Samaritan Snare"). The ship's linguist/cryptography expert is a noncom named Bart Faulwell, who is openly gay, and regularly writes letters to his lover, Lt. Commander Anthony Mark, who is also in Starfleet and works at Starbase 92.
A new S.C.E. eBook comes out every month. In addition, the first eight eBooks have been reprinted in book form: HAVE TECH, WILL TRAVEL and MIRACLE WORKERS.
What follows is an excerpt from STAR TREK: S.C.E. #3: HARD CRASH by Christie Golden, which is available as an eBook or in print form in STAR TREK: S.C.E. Book 1: HAVE TECH, WILL TRAVEL.
Bartholomew Faulwell smiled to himself as he took the items from the replicator. What he was doing had become, over time, a ritual of sorts. He took the crisp, off-white paper, enjoying the feel of it in his hand; picked up the smooth pen filled with just the right shade of black-blue ink. Sometimes, if he weren't careful, the ink would stain the tip of the third finger on the right hand. It brought him an uncommon rush of pleasure whenever he chanced to look upon that smudge before it wore off, because it reminded him of the ritual, and the ritual brought him closer to Anthony Mark.
Of course, there was no convenient way of getting the actual letters to Anthony. Once Faulwell had composed them, had gotten the words exactly right, he'd read them aloud into a subspace message and poof, off it would go. It was impersonal, but it was the only way. On the rare opportunities they had to meet, Faulwell would give Anthony the letters in a box as a special gift. But the simple physical act of writing the letters--all of which he opened with the words "Just a brief note" regardless of how many pages the letter would then go on to become--made Bart feel akin to the myriads of wanderers who had gone before: the sailors of ancient Earth, the early spacefarers, all those who knew distance from those they loved and tried to bridge that distance with the written word.
Words, written or spoken, were almost as dear to Faulwell as Anthony.
He took a breath and settled down in a chair in the quarters he shared with Stevens. He instructed the computer to provide soft instrumental music as a pleasant background, and began to write.
Just a brief note to let you know that our last assignment was completed successfully. It was not without its tense moments, however! Some days, this mission becomes just a trifle too exciting for a boring old linguist like me to handle. It is always such a pleasure to have a calm moment now and then to write down my thoughts and feelings to you, my dear, and know that as you read these words you will, in some small way, share in my adventures. How are you getting along with your new colleague, the one you called in your last letter the "Pompous Windbag?" Has PW come around to your way of thinking yet? I cannot imagine you would be unable to win him over once
A klaxon sounded. Yellow alert. The slight linguist sagged in his chair and groaned. Time for another adventure.
In issue #17 of the original series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, a cadet named Yoshi Mishima was revealed to be gay. Unfortunately, the issue was rushed and not one of the author's (Chris Cooper) better issues in the series, and it happened around the end of the run, but it still counts as a step, especially considering it was published in a Marvel comic book. For more information, see http://www.gayleague.com/gay/characters/yoshi.html.
Although the mention of comic books is traditionally scoffed at by non-comic reading fans of Trek/Trekkers and especially by those who aren't fans of any kind of sci fi or literature, and in spite of the fact that comics are not considered as canon as the novels, and certainly not as canon as the TV series or movies, these particular events have proven incredibly significant. Starfleet Academy wasn't the only series that was supposed to include gay themed storylines, toned down though they both were. During a crossover of most of the series in the ST line, the DS9 series briefly mentioned the relationship between the station's Bajoran security deputy Lt. Etana Kol and her lover Krissten, DS9's head nurse. The way it was shown in the issues in question was in a diminished capacity (which also happened to the Academy series). However...
After the line was cancelled (due to low sales only -- this was during a time when all comics were suffering due to a very turbulent market), the co-authors (openly gay Andy Mangels and straight but very gay-friendly Michael A. Martin) were eventually given other projects to do, once again in collaboration. A few years later, Paramount hired them to write a TNG book about the covert operation Section 31. In it, they included a character opted for gay character status elsewhere on this website, one featured in Trek canon, only this time as he was originally meant to be shown -- openly homosexual, appearing with his male lover, no less. Namely, Lt. Hawk. The book's title is Star Trek - TNG "Section 31: Rogue" . This marks Paramount as one step closer to bringing openly gay characters and relationships to the canonical TV series. Star Trek - TNG "Section 31: Rogue" .
Data spoke up then. "I believe the two of you have a different kind of celebration coming up soon. Your second anniversary is next week as I recall?"
Riker shot the pair a questioning look. Keru grinned under his mustache, and put his arm around the shoulders of the shorter Hawk, pulling him in just a bit. "That"s right. Two years since that fateful day on Risa."
"I was spelunking in the crystal caves and lost my footing," said Hawk.
"I fell over the side of an outcropping, and landed wrong. Luckily, Ranul was exploring the same caves, and he rappelled down to help me."
"He had broken his leg," said Keru. "So, I hoisted him over my shoulder like a sack of Andorian curm'esh, and climbed up to safety and a medic."
"He waited for me to get out of the medic lounge, took me to dinner, and we've been together ever since," said Hawk. "We were even both able to arrange transfers onto the Enterprise-E before its launch."
More information: Andymangels.com: Section 31: Rogue
She beamed at him in response, and he turned around to introduce George, only to find that his roommate wasn't right behind him. Harry looked back and saw him standing in the same spot, watching them, a strange expression on his face. Harry waved at him impatiently, and finally George moved toward them.
"This is Libby Lattimore, the artist," said Harry proudly. "My roommate, George Mathers. He said your work is outstanding."
Libby extended her hand. "Thanks so much for coming, George. Harry's talked on and on about you."
George made what looked like an attempt to smile, but to Harry it seemed forced. What was wrong? "You're very talented, Miss Latti-more," said George formally. "Thank you for the opportunity to see your work."
George didn't talk this way, thought Harry. Why was he so stiff and formal? Harry was baffled, but also disappointed. He wanted these two people, the two he most cared about, to like each other and to get along. But George was almost icy.
Now he turned to Harry with a facade of good cheer. "Well, I better get back to calculus. I have an exam day after tomorrow and I need every minute I can get. Nice to meet you," he added to Libby, and then he hurried off through the crowded room.
"Did I say something wrong?" asked Libby, obviously having noticed his strange demeanor.
"Of course not. Maybe he wasn't feeling well." Harry looked into Libby's black eyes and immediately forgot about George. They spent the evening together, Harry feeling unaccountably proud as he heard the accolades heaped on Libby from all who saw her work, and he didn't think about George and his unusual behavior until late that night, when he returned to his room at the Academy, aglow with thoughts of Libby and the sweet memory of their first kiss.
He entered quietly, in case George was asleep, and indeed the room was darkened. But he spotted his roommate sitting in the window seat, staring out at the trees in the quadrangle of which their dormitory was a part. George was silhouetted against a sky that was illuminated by a half-moon.
"George? You all right?"
George didn't turn his head to answer. "Fine," he said unconvincingly. Harry looked at him, reminded of his earlier behavior at the gallery.
"I thought you might not be feeling well," Harry said. "You left so abruptly."
George finally turned toward him, and in the moonlight Harry could see naked anguish in his eyes. "I've been a fool, Harry, and it's a little tough to admit that to myself."
"What are you talking about?" Harry was genuinely puzzled. There was a long silence in which Harry could hear George breathing, as though he weren't quite getting enough oxygen.
"When I saw you with that woman tonight, it was clear how you feel about her. And—I just didn't realize."
"Realize what?"
A sound of exasperation emitted from George, half a laugh, half an ironic expletive. "Are you so dense, Harry? Do I have to spell it out?"
Harry felt trapped and confused. He couldn't imagine what was making his friend act like this, couldn't wrap his mind around whatever it was George was trying to say. "George, please, I honestly don't understand."
George stood up, the moon catching one side of his face while the other remained in darkness. His one visible eye looked immeasurably sad. "I love you, Harry. I'm in love with you. And I thought you felt the same way."
Harry stared at him, suddenly understanding everything, realizing that he was the one who'd been a fool. It had never occurred to him that George had made this assumption about their relationship. And he blamed himself for not seeing the obvious.
"George, I'm sorry. I've been pretty stupid."
But George was shaking his head. "I made assumptions because I wanted to make them," he admitted. "You didn't date women, you seemed to enjoy my company, we did everything together ... I interpreted those things in the way that made me happy."
"But there was never anything romantic between us ..."
"I wanted there to be. But I told myself it would come with time. And I liked being with you so much that I didn't want to take the risk of pushing it." He shook his head ruefully. "If I'd been honest with myself, I'd have known I was fantasizing. But I didn't want to admit it. I loved you too much."
An immense wave of friendship, of caring and concern and, yes, of love, swept over Harry. He went to his friend and put his arms around George, who responded in kind, and they stood like that for a long time, locked in a healing embrace. Then George pulled away. "I have to request a change of rooms," he said quietly. "It'd be too difficult to live with you now. I hope you understand."
"Of course I do." Ineffable sadness enveloped Harry, and he felt a palpable sense of loss, the only such pain he'd experienced in his life since Mousie had died years earlier. "I want to be your friend, George. Can we still have that?"
George took a breath, looked away from him. "I hope so. In time. But not right away. I have to ... to get over you."
The story also features a male couple.
"Everyone was willing to accept Chakotay's decision on that matter, although Brad Harrison and his partner, Noah Mannick, asked to stay together, a request Chakotay was happy to accomodate. They had only recently become a couple and were still in the early flush of romantic intensity."
Ben nominated Lieutenant Commander Burgoyne from the Star Trek: New Frontier novels and writes:
"While technically not a "gay" or "lesbian" character, Burgoyne is from a planet of Hermats, so s/he
posesses both sexual organs. Burgoyne, throught the course of the series,
has trysts with both male and femail characters, and is very free and
expressive about hish sexual identity (pronouns are
While this may not be specifically gay or lesbian, this does open the door to the possibilities of relationships outside the stereotypical boy/girl model, and on top of everything, the character is a damn fine engineer and Star Fleet Officer. "