The Caribbean will become a little geekier and a little gayer when Gaaays In Spaaace joins a “Star Trek”-themed cruise early next year to host parties and panel discussions. Photo: Gaaays in Spaaace.
The Caribbean will become a little geekier and a little gayer when Gaaays In Spaaace joins a “Star Trek”-themed cruise early next year to host parties and panel discussions.
Gaaays In Spaaace, which formed in 2016, is an advocacy group that promotes the need for LGBTQ characters in science fiction.
“We’re looking forward to reconnecting with many of the stars who have supported our organization over the years and having lots of fun with the fans,” Dan Deevy, Gaaays in Spaace executive director-founder, said in a statement announcing that the group will be hosting events on “Star Trek: The Cruise III,” which resembles a floating “Star Trek” convention.
Specific Gaaays in Spaaace events will be announced once the crusie’s programming has been finalized, spokeswoman Gayle Brookes said.
‘STAR TREK’ CONVENTION
The cruise will leave Miami Jan. 4, 2019.
The the six-day voyage aboard the Norwegian Jade will leave January 4 from Miami to the Grand Cayman Islands and Jamaica and return January 9.
Aboard the ship, fans will be able to mingle with stars from several “Star Trek” series, including Wil Wheaton, Wilson Cruz, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, and Denise Crosby. Cruz made headlines late last year when he and Anthony Rapp made history by having the first gay kiss in “Star Trek” history on Netflix’s “Star Trek: Discovery.”
GAAAYS IN SPAAACE
Gaaays in Spaaace was created after the “Star Trek” franchise was rebooted and had its first openly gay character, Capt. Hikaru Sulu, in “Star Trek: Beyond.” In the 2016 film Sulu, has a husband and child; however, it later came to light that a kissing scene between Sulu and his husband was dropped from the final cut, Esquire reported. In the original “Star Trek” TV show and movies, actor George Takei, who identifies as gay, portrayed Sulu.
EQUALITY CELEBRATION TOUR
Despite that missed cinematic opportunity, Deevy wanted to celebrate the moment in “Star Trek” history. Last year, the group launched the inaugural Gaaays in Spaaace: Equality Celebration Tour (sponsored by Rod Roddenberry, son of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry) and hosted 12 events in seven cities with more a dozen celebrity guests.
Gaaays in Spaaace has also hosted panel discussions at two of the most heavily attended comic-cons of the year: WonderCon in Anaheim and the Washington D.C. based, AwesomeCon.
“We felt obligated to not allow this moment in history to pass without commemoration, and so we created a multi-city, cross country futuristic equality celebration tour called Gaaays in Spaaace,” according to the Gaaays in Spaaace website.
