Ming-Na (Camille Wray)
Beware of minor SPOILERS for the upcoming episode “Life” in the report below.
The third Stargate series will go where Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis didn’t: It will have gay characters. Stargate Universe series creators Robert C. Cooper and Brad Wright told fans during their stage panel at Creation Entertainment’s official Vancouver Stargate convention earlier this month.
“There are at least one and potentially more gay characters on Universe,” Cooper said in answer to a fan’s question.
Wright added, “There’s actually two.”
One of those characters is Camille Wray, the I.O.A. representative on board the Destiny, new casting documents reveal. The character is played by actress Ming-Na.
In the show’s seventh episode, “Life,” viewers will meet Wray’s long-time partner back on Earth, Sharon. The character is listed as a lead guest, and possibly recurring. Camille uses the Destiny’s long-range communications device to return home to Sharon for a brief respite.
Stargate Atlantis did have a few gay characters itself, at least in the minds of the producers — though it never made it onto the screen. Executive producer Joseph Mallozzi has stated that character of Alicia Vega was written to be a lesbian (story). But after her introduction in the Season Five premiere, she was quickly killed off in just her second appearance (“Whispers”).
Mallozzi also said that there was another character on Atlantis he always thought was gay, though the right time (read: not forced) to reveal it on screen never materialized.
The decision to include gay characters on Universe was born from the desire to focus the show on its characters and their relationships with one another.
“This goes towards our goal to make the characters on Universe as complex and complicated and realistic and identifiable as we can, to as many people as we can,” Cooper said. “And that’s not just a desire for ratings. That’s the desire to portray humanity, and make a show that is saying something about who we are.”
Stargate Universe premieres this fall on SCI FI Channel in the U.S., Sky1 in the U.K. and SPACE in Canada! Keep your browser locked on GateWorld’s own SGU Launch Center for more in the weeks ahead.
(Thanks to Morjana for the contributing)
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Grrr.. okay, I said I was done responding to you Browncoat1984, but I just can’t bite my tongue. “ALL” men and women are NOT attracted to the opposite sex! That’s the whole point! It has nothing to do with being abused, manipulated, or just not meeting the “right” man/woman. IT’S AN INVOLUNTARY BIOLOGICAL URGE. The same way you have an involuntary biological urge to “mate” with someone of the opposite sex. There is scientifically documented homosexual activity in more than 1500 species of animals, including primates. So does a dog or a monkey or an insect conciously DECIDE to get it on with a member of their own gender? No. they just happen to be wired that way. People, and organisms in general, are vastly unique. We are incredibley complex beings, and it stands to reason that the development of our amazing brains varies from person to person. CLEARLY it does. I have no probelm saying that I CHOSE to be out, or that I CHOSE to involve myself in the LGBT community. But I did NOT choose to be gay in the first place.
It has nothing to do with it being “difficult” or “shamefull” to call it a choice, it has to do with it being INACCURATE to call it a choice. You admit that you had no choice in your own sexuality, and no one here is inplying otherwise. How can you make such a judgement about others, when you’ve never been in their shoes?
And in response to your comment about “sci-fi tolerance?” Discrimination and ignorance is not so fun when it’s actually directed at you, is it?
redlotus | April 20 @ 6:54 pmYou asked a stupid question. “Why is it shameful to admit it’s a choice?” IT’s not a choice, so I can’t answer that question. You want to boil down the situation so it fits in with your biased views. Sex has many purposes, perhaps its ultimate purpose is reproduction, so what? Explain to me how that rules out biological homosexuality? Just because you can put the square block in the square hole doesn’t prove anything. My finger fits into my nose, and pulls out boogers, doesn’t mean it wasn’t meant for other things.
gobblygoop | April 20 @ 6:55 pm@Browncoat1984
For an educated man you’re pretty ignorant and misinformed about homosexuality.
Tremolo | April 20 @ 7:01 pmFirstly Stargate is a Science Fiction show, Science fiction has been used for decades to explore the human condition. What we do right and do wrong, the actions we take as a race and as people. Homosexuality is apart of our society and apart of nature, animals have relationships with another animal of the same sex. Note I use the word relationship not sex, while sex maybe apart of a relationship it is not the main factor. Now just because you dislike the way some people have sex does not make them wrong. I can’t believe we are still debating this part of our society, everything we go through everyday as people isn’t that hard enough without trying to look for acceptance, just accept it and move on.
If you don’t like gay relationships don’t have a relationship with someone of the same sex.
Homosexuality = Love
excalibur33 | April 20 @ 7:15 pmHa ha. I’m late to this party, but it’s funny that people think that having one or two gay characters us suddenly going to make this NOT a sci-fi show. Yeah, it’s till sci-fi, it just has a gay character. Atlantis had a Czech character (Zalenka) and a Canadian character (McKay). This didn’t mean it was a Czech show or a Canadian show. It also had femals in lead roles, but that doesn’t make it a “womens’ show.” For heaven’s sake, people, if this offends you so much, then by all means, don’t watch. And don’t go to the bank, or the grocery store, or the gym, either, because chances are there are gay people in all those places. If that spooks you, stay home and watch Leave it to Beaver… heaven knows the real world won’t intrude there.
jyh | April 20 @ 7:23 pmYes.. seriously. I get offended.This is a stupid idea. They are not trying to make the show more realistic by having lesbo’s on the show. Sorry but in real life, lesbians seldom look that good. They are just trying to get a wider variety (mostly more liberal people) to watch the show to boost the ratings. And YES homosexuality is wrong. I do not want to see it at all. I hope I can still enjoy Stargate after this.
nkilbourn | April 20 @ 7:40 pm> why is it so shameful to say that being gay is a choice…
Because, Browncoat, it’s factually incorrect. SF films and TV are great, I’ve written and directed SF films myself, but don’t quote Babylon 5 as a factual source in support of your statements and then complain when people titter and laugh at your expressed ignorance on the issue.
The fact is that forty years of research into etiology of sexual orientation has put to bed the notion that people choose to be gay (or straight), that it’s the result of having been abused, emotional trauma or bad parenting. People who still hold fast to that belief are, at best, ill-informed or, at worst, kin and kith to Flat Earthers and Creationists.
doorQdotCom | April 20 @ 7:42 pm>”….Atlantis had a Czech character (Zalenka) and a Canadian character (McKay). This didn’t mean it was a Czech show or a Canadian show.”
Brilliant! Love your example! I’m stealing it and using it from here-on-out!
doorQdotCom | April 20 @ 7:47 pmnkilbourn, if you are referring to Lesbians as “lesbos,” I think it’s pretty safe to say you won’t enjoy SG:U.
doorQdotCom | April 20 @ 7:49 pm@nkilbourn, really? “In real life, lesbians seldom look that good”? How many lesbians do YOU know? I mean, have you SEEN Portia de Rossi, Tammy Lynn Micheals, Heather Matarazzo, or Carolyn Murphy, just to name a few? All actors/celebrities who make a living based partly on their looks, and all stunning women. Do you have some notion of all lesbians as manish or ugly? There are thousands of beautiful women who identify as gay. My partner was a well-paid model for many years, and could’ve continued in that career if she hadn’t decided to pursue something more intellectually challenging. You are making yourself sound small-minded and ignorant.
redlotus | April 20 @ 7:53 pm“lesbians seldom look that good”
nkilbourn take a look at Portia de Rossi, Cat and Jennifer Cora to name a few and stop going by the stereotype.
excalibur33 | April 20 @ 7:57 pm@nkilbourn
“And YES homosexuality is wrong.”
You’d better hold a press conference to announce this stunning revelation to the world!
Oh wait, it’s just your bigoted opinion! I was worried for a second, there.
Tremolo | April 20 @ 7:58 pmStrange, most of my neighbours don’t look like Michael Shanks, Rachel Luttrell, Joe Flanigan etc. Oh wait, that’s because most people on tv are better looking than average people, they are thinner too…with better teeth and hair. That’s one of the reasons they probably get hired to work on tv shows. That is a really weak argument against a lesbian character.
miki_mouse | April 20 @ 8:11 pmWow. I’m a bit overwhelmed by the comments here.
I’m wondering how some people can actually find it offensive if there are characters on a show who are in a relationship with a person in another galaxy. I mean, I’ve never studied biology, but last time I checked, I couldn’t have sex with my boyfriend who lives a few hundred miles away from me. Do I have sex all the time? Nope. My ex-girlfriend lived quite far away too. No sex when we were seperated. Sorry.
So how can you possibly say that this is about sex (I’ve propably never used this word so often before in one comment).
Another thing are the ‘christians’ who claim homosexuality is a ‘choice’. Right. I was never asked if I liked men or women. Actually, being with a woman for the first time was the most natural thing that ever happened to me. I’ve never made a choice, it just happened. Most of my same sex relationships failed because of other peoples reaction towords my partner.Since I’m bisexual, I seem to have become a man’s living sexual fantasy. Which is another reason why I can’t understand most people’s attitude.It annoys me that people either think of ‘us’ as sex objects, or unnatural, disgusting ‘things’.
I did not want to bring Christianity into the discussion, but it’s inteting how people say ‘why do they never make a show with christians, why does it always have to be the gays?’
Well. Have you ever heard a gay person say things in public, like ‘I don’t hate you, but I hate your choice of lifestyle’ to a heterosexual person? Or a Christian? Have you ever heard a gay person insult a Christian simply because they are what they are? Christans might get insulted, but, and that’s a really sad thing, because they threw the first stone.
So it’s no wonder that involving religion, almost the only reason for homophobia, is not shown on TV.
I could never hate a Christian for his beliefs. I wouldn’t mind if there WAS an openly Christian character on SGU, I’d even welcome it, despite being an absolute atheist, UNLESS it is shoved into our faces. See. That’s the difference. Don’t condamn things you have not seen. If the character is portrayed badly, then just turn off the TV.
And the less people that posted those horrible comments (no matter which side they were on) watch it, the better the fan base will be.
If the sole reason for not watching a possibly great show is the fact that there are gay characters, then, at least I don’t want you to be Stargate Fans. Because that means we’d have something in common. And I cannot accept intolerance.
Seythia | April 20 @ 8:12 pmOh and nkilbourn? It would be great if there was some way I could know whether this lesbian character is going to make you dislike the show. It will really make my night if I know that a bigot like you is made unhappy.
miki_mouse | April 20 @ 8:15 pmYou guys are fun. I just got called a bigot for what? I called no names.
nkilbourn | April 20 @ 8:17 pm@US06154: “So in your words, would you explain what a ‘brief respite’ means?”
By a “brief respite” I mean a visit home, a chance to get away from the Destiny for a few, fleeting hours.
We don’t know that there *isn’t* any sort of love scene in this episode, but none appear in the casting sides.
@All: This story is not a “news release,” and the producers made no effort to put it out there. They are not “making a big deal out of it.” They were asked a question by a fan at the convention, and answered it. We found it worth reporting to the rest of fandom. Then the character’s identity came out through spoiler sources (not the producers) to fill out the story.
Darren Sumner | April 20 @ 8:22 pmEveryone: Please limit your comments in this thread to the news item above and the topic of gay characters on Stargate. This isn’t the place for more general debates over homosexuality, gay rights, etc.
Further posts that stray from the topic will be removed.
Thank you!
- The Management
Darren Sumner | April 20 @ 8:23 pmOh my here comes the loving, forgiving feed em to the lions christians. Introducing a gay character is no different than introducing a straight character, a latino, black, red, green, blind, bald, bigot. Gotta love all you red necks who preach your version of the word of God. Relax, go watch Touched by an Angel reruns. Although, you first might want to watch Della Reese in “Harlem Nights” then I suppose you would not like her either. There’s always the ANGEL network.
flmatthew | April 20 @ 8:34 pmI am glad management cleared up the part about this not being a news release. I’ll just say again that I think it is great that the characters of Stargate will be more representative of the general population. There wasn’t enough women or African Americans on SG1 and they seemed to fix that on Atlantis. Now they are adding more people from diverse backgrounds etc to SGU and I think it’s a good move. I’m very much looking forward to the show.
miki_mouse | April 20 @ 8:35 pmBut will there be gay men? Lesbians always get trotted out as a ratings stunt especially if they’re hot and make out with other hot women. Groundbreaking? Hardly. Put a couple of guys kissing in stargate and see how many “pro gay” posters flip out.
Imitation Tofu | April 20 @ 8:36 pmI do agree that there should be more gay male characters, and I do hope that SGU is brave enough to go there. It’s true that lesbians in media seem to be more accepted, and I hope that changes, but I still think that SGU having a lesbian character is a valuable thing, and not to be diminished by the lack of (current) male gay characters. And personally, I like to think that the people who have stood up for Cooper/Wright’s decision to include a lesbian character would also approve of a gay male character. Give em some credit!
redlotus | April 20 @ 8:41 pmImitation Tofu — I agree that I am a bit concerned that they may just take this opportunity to get girls to make out with girls. That is not really making the show any more inclusive because it is just promoting the sterotype that lesbians primarily exist for men’s sexual gratification (example: lots of mainstream porn). I hope they treat the whole situation respectfully. We need more characters on tv that help promote that gay people are real people too: who fall in love, have long term relationships etc. Having gay men on the show would be more groundbreaking. But given the reaction on this thread so far, maybe they are taking baby steps?
miki_mouse | April 20 @ 8:42 pmTotally agree with Citac. I don’t want some sappy gay relationship on Stargate. The TV companies only use the “lesbian kiss” plot when they think their story is so weak the only way to retain viewers is by appealing to pervs looking for a quick thrill. Seriously, if this is the best Robert C. Cooper and Brad Wright can come up with, then hand the script over to the fans and let us write you a decent story. no lesbians, no talking animals, no cute kids or any other lame plot fillers. just pure Stargate
SceneOne | April 20 @ 9:08 pmWell only thing I care about is that they do not make it to over the top and jokey, like they do in Tourchwood, but take it more serious in tone and more emotional. And we get to see plenty of skin.
knowles2 | April 20 @ 9:10 pmI think it is fantastic that SGU is going in this direction. Let hope it still able to keep the fun and adventure and jokes to, why also being darker and more series than previous stargates series.
SGU it looking excellent. Here hoping we hear of the new writers they supposedly bringing in soon. It even more fun seeing all the religious folks get all hot and bothered about it.