10 Biggest LGBTQIA+ Moments In Star Trek
6. Androgyny And The Outcast
The Outcast is a controversial episode of the Next Generation that tackles trans' issues and conversion therapy and, though it contains some truly heartwrenching moments, it ultimately fell a little short in what it set out to do. Soren is a member of the J'naii, a race of androgynous aliens. When Riker and Soren begin working together, she reveals to him that she has felt female for her entire life, though it is forbidden on her world to do so.
She is discovered and put on trial and, though she delivers an impassioned speech as to how there is nothing wrong with feeling the way that she does, she is forced to undergo conversion therapy, leading to a devastating moment in the end when Riker tries to rescue her, only to discover she has been 'cured'.
Though it was certainly a choice to discuss conversion therapy and trans' issues openly, the episode received criticism from LGBTQIA+ groups in that it didn't go far enough. Writers like Ronald D. Moore openly admitted later that, at the time, depicting the struggles of these minorities was not a priority for the producers. Thankfully, Star Trek improved on this front as the years went on.