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)
Well that sucks I just want a fun action sci-fi show not this relationship crap it going to be who’s have sex who this week. Every other show on TV has that, what the don’t have is a stargate to go do anything that there imagination can think of. I want my SG-1 and SGA back!!
BSG wannabe and now lesbians. RIP Stargate
This sucks. I don’t mind if there’s the occasional nod to gays or lesbians (for instance, Ivanova in season 2 of Babylon 5 and -possible- feelings for Talia, Dax in that DS9 episode, Inara), but the thing is, when that happened. It wasn’t Oh, guess what, we’ve got gay characters on our show! In most of the cases I’ve seen gays or lesbians on sci-fi shows it hasn’t been flaunted, even when BSG did it, I thought they were gonna just throw it in our faces but they really didn’t (in the case of Gaeta and Admiral Cain) “This goes… Read more »
This is a good thing. Well, it’s not a bad thing, by any means. I believe these story lines are important to the depth of the show. Yet, I don’t think there necessarily needs to be a big production about the whole bit. And I also believe the SG family will keep it entertaining and intelligent. So. Woo.
This is fantastic. I’m hoping it will be a well rounded, positive portrayal rather than a ratings stunt but with no way of knowing, I’m happy to wait. We haven’t even seen how it will be handled, so anyone who is already jumping up and down about the “constant pushing of the homosexual agenda” is being deliberately closed minded. If you want to watch the show, give it a go. If not- whining and complaining just makes you look like a bigot. What is the “homosexual agenda” anyway, apart from some keywords that mean nothing but are very helpful to… Read more »
I am very surprised at the responses to this announcement thus far. The first comment regarding “fun action sci-fi show” and wanting the prior two series back would seem to suggest that these series did not have portrayals of relationships. Most fan feedback that I am aware of, regarding SG1 particularly, is that the relationship between the team members and others was a large draw for viewers. Certainly SGA spent a great deal of time on relationships in the fifth season. I also believe that there seems to be an assumption that now the show runners are going to be… Read more »
I find this desgusting. I don’t hate gays, just their practice and way of life. I was incredibly exited about SGU, but now, I doubt anyone in my family will watch it.
I have no problems at all with gay characters in Stargate. It’s part of life. But I am worried about how they will handle it, given their track record with relationships.
Hopefully it won’t be a major focus, but more of a by the way type of item.
And I certainly wish they’d been a bit braver and had two male gay characters instead of going for what I think might be the “hot lesbian action” route for the fanboy audience.
“I find this desgusting. I don’t hate gays, just their practice and way of life. I was incredibly exited about SGU, but now, I doubt anyone in my family will watch it.”
This is what I mean about fans who should keep their mouths shut. You sound like you belong in the 1950s. Your post says more about you than it does about the article.
“This is what I mean about fans who should keep their mouths shut. You sound like you belong in the 1950s. Your post says more about you than it does about the article.”
My comment was explaining how I feel about this piece of news.
BTW, I don’t mind looking old-fashioned. I think people were a lot smarter back then.
“I think people were a lot smarter back then.”
…apart from the misogyny, accepted racism, bigotry? Yeah, probably a lot smarter. Yay olden timey days!
“I find this desgusting. I don’t hate gays, just their practice and way of life. I was incredibly exited about SGU, but now, I doubt anyone in my family will watch it.” “This is what I mean about fans who should keep their mouths shut. You sound like you belong in the 1950s. Your post says more about you than it does about the article.” Why should they shut there mouth? They don’t have a right to speak their opinion if its not yours? If you want lesbians they have plenty of websites that you can go to but if… Read more »
WOW. It’s sad there are alot of Biggots on this site! Everyone is equal, but gays???
I love the fact that people are preaching tolerance yet if someone doesn’t like the fact that there’s homosexual characters isn’t allowed, and they’re immediately called “bigots.” Isn’t that like…a contradiction? For one, I don’t think I’ve seen anybody here say they hate gay or lesbian people. I know I most certainly don’t. As I have mentioned, I am a fan of Firefly (obviously from my name), Farscape, DS9, and B5, all of which have had some sort of heterosexual or homosexual instance on the show (Farscape did an episode where a female alien kissed Chiana). In those shows, I… Read more »
Oh, and to the poster who posted before me, who said that everyone is equal but gays? Only you did. Well, I did now, but that was just to quote you. Please don’t turn this into a discussion of gay rights.
Of course they have a right to their opinion, just warning them what they sound like.
I hardly think one lesbian relationship introduced in the 7th episode is going to take over the show. Since when were kick ass sci-fi and lesbians mutually exclusive anyway?
I think it’s great that there will be gay characters on the show – it was long overdue and look, she’s Asian AND gay, they can now flaunt to have two minorities in one – but I would still prefer to have an action/adventure flick over space opera with heavily accentuated relationship drama – yes, I loved SG-1/SGA and hated BSG for that very reason.
This gets a hearty “Yea!” out of me. I know it’s been a goal of Wright and Cooper since they let slip their gay musings about Vega / Lorne / Dex at the end of Atlantis.
The big thing here is to make the two gay characters as fully rounded as any other on the show; that they aren’t just defined by who they kiss but rather what they do when they aren’t kissing. In the end, isn’t that what gets someone to kiss you, anyway?
I’m kind of looking forward to seeing this now, but will be disappointed if it is done badly, which I think is a distinct possibility given the shows track records with relationships in general. However, I don’t think it will take anything away from the show and you know what, I don’t know if the narrow minded bigot demographic is really worth worrying about for ratings. And if anyone thinks that several of the posts above aren’t homophobic then I recommend substituting ‘blacks’ (or racial description of your choice) in place of ‘gays’ and seeing if it sounds racist. If… Read more »
How many other sci-fi shows can say they have 10 seasons and 3 movies? Oh that’s right NONE and they did that with just plan old good sci-fi, the team was a family, no love interests, just saying.
Yeah the Sam/Jack thing but that was never in your face, like I THINK SGU is going to do with love/sex relationships gay or straight. But hey I might be wrong we just have to wait for the show to come out.
I think this is great news. I like watching diversity on my favourite shows…be it a gay relationship, interracial relationship or different religious or ethnic stories. They only enrich our lives and help us accept everyone for who they are. I think it’s time we moved from the bigotry and hatred of the yesteryear’s learn to be tolerable. TwiceBorn…you say you don’t hate gays but you hate their practice and way of life…what you obviously don’t understand with what you wrote was that you actually DO hate gays…because what they practice and their way of life is they are. And… Read more »
if i wanted to watch lesbians i would watch porn simple
Please keep the show about the SGates and Ancients it is what made you the SCI-FI giant you are today
Gay is wrong, ok let us take morels out of it. What it the sole purpose of sex? To have a baby, to insure the survival of a species. A man and a man can’t do that, a woman and a woman can’t do that. Man is designed to be with a woman all the right parts fit, if you know what I mean. For example look at HDMI, the cable has male end and the TV has a female end, it would be wrong if they both had male ends or female ends it simple would not work properly.… Read more »
Seriously people? You get so offended because there are “gay/lesbian” characters?? It’s Television for crying out loud. Characters are born thru the imaginatives. Rather you like it or not this world doesn’t revolve around you guys. I can’t believe you guys are even Sci-Fi fans! The Sci-Fi people that I know are open minded. If you can’t handle that, you’re no Sci-Fi, you’re just so narrow, conservative, poor little ignorant human being who needs to wake up and show respect to people that are different than you!
@ MangoG, very well said!
Bentdog – I hate to break the news to you buddy but the sole purpose of sex is not to have babies. Yes it certainly helps but it is not the sole purpose. If you need any advice on what sex is really about I could give you some pointers but I’m sure you think you already know everything. What an ignorant thing to say. citac – homosexuality has nothing to do with pornography. If you haven’t figured out that by now then I suggest you research a little more before making such silly statements. I’m surprised at the ignorance… Read more »
My sister and I are laughing our arses off over some of these comments! “I don’t hate gays, just their practice and way of life.” “If you want lesbians they have plenty of websites that you can go to” “if i wanted to watch lesbians i would watch porn simple” “What it the sole purpose of sex? To have a baby” We are laughing because we feel sorry for you guys. It’s sad that some people just don’t get that gay doesn’t just = sex. Our favourite comment of course is “they’ll just turn it into an excuse to have… Read more »
Sorry I should have said primary, not sole. I know emotions/feelings are part of sex too, I am talking pure science, no morals, not emotions, not feelings.
If you want to bring emotions/feelings in we can. The reason sex feels so good physically and emotionality is so that we will want it, if sex did not feel so good a lot of us might not be here today.
Like Joe Mallozzi said on his blog today, this show is on the same network as the last two shows. They will still be following the same guidelines when it comes to profanity, sex, violence… In SG-1 even in bed scenes (Sam and Pete, Jack and Kerry) they were almost chaste… they had clothes on in bed! Did we even have a bedroom scene on Atlantis?
The show has never been about sex before, why would that suddenly change just because one of the characters happens to be gay? It’s part of the character, it won’t (or shouldn’t) define her.
Bentdog – I understand what you’re are saying and I think it is partly true for some people. But now we’re talking about sex and not the issues of a gay relationship on SGU. The fact is as you pnted out is that sex is a feel good thing…that’s bnot exclusive to those who want to procreate. And homosexuality isn’t something you go out and try like a new pair of boots. It’s the way they are. Exactly like the way you are or I am. We are who we are and I accept that it’s not something that everyone… Read more »
…not just those who are intimidated by the idea of homosexuality…
Just because a person does not agree with something doesn’t make them intimidated.
Personally, I wish they would have just left it alone. Why does everything in our society have to be controversial? I like watching a show without having to consider the “real world”. It is an escape from reality for a few minutes. Life issues and problems will be here when the show is over. Let have my few minutes vacation please.
Terrible decision! I am not nearly as excited about it now.
Oh please. I just want action and mystery and technology, no sex. At all. Please? So far I’ve actually been full behind Universe but this caused me to waver, simply because it will very very easily lead itself to 90210.
Granted…I should have perhaps used the word “opposed” other than “intimidation”.But please don’t forget I said on our screens not just homosexuality in general. When you snipped that out of my quote, you took it out of context. Perhaps not deliberately but it certainly wasn’t the same as when I quoted it. I still have yet to hear why this is so offensive. Why is it that people feel that by ignoring it or banishing it from our screens that it makes it go away and helps us escape from real life?? It is a part of real life as… Read more »
While I am happy that people like me are going to be represented in the new Stargate series, I am really disapointed that it is going to be lesbians instead of men. It would be nice to have a character that I can personally identify with on this show. To all you homophobes out there… tough luck! We are everywhere, involved in everything and always have been and always will be around, whether you like it or not. You have no idea how many gay people you encounter every day of your life simply because it isn’t always obvious that… Read more »
Stargate franchise are fine without the gay characters. When did it came mandatory to have gay characters? It’s stargate not the L word or Queer as Folk. There are better things to do than making the character gay.
I’m a little apprehensive as to how this will be done but all in all I’m quite looking forward to it. It’s about time that we saw something other than societal norms on our television shows.
OMG, let’s really mix it up, and get people talking about this show. Let’s get some animals (wink, wink) involved too, and let the show go “where no one in their right minds had gone before – Sorry Gene Roddenberry). Let’s sensationalize the heck out of the show. Oh Stargate, my alltime favorite Scifi show, I shed a tear for you.
When David Blue will appear in episode as drunk Drag Queen, I’ll totally stop watching SGU and done with the TPTB production – professionally.
I just have to give kudos to Browncoat1984, the one single person posting here that seems to have a handle on his/her brain.
Why does there have to be a gay character on each and every show these days? I mean c’mon! It’s political correctness gone overboard. I know plenty of homosexuals in real life, but nowadays TV would have you believe 1/3 of the world is gay and that another 1/3 aren’t sure what they are. Plus, highlighting a character’s sexuality continues to make it an issue. It shouldn’t be an issue. You don’t have writers/producers/journalists going “and this character will be straight!” as if it’s a big deal, do you? This inclusion of a homosexual in every show, with a fanfare… Read more »
It’s pretty dispiriting to see that so many Stargate fans are horrible bigots. Nice going guys, you’re making us all look so good.
Yes its offical stargate gone to hades! Hey at least one of um gets killed quick. Now I got 2 reasons to hate this show, can I get 3. I will always see it as wrong no matter what anyone thinks,or that I’m freakin narrow. It only shows that the world has finally gone insane!!!!!
Well, I was looking forward to it. If a character is gay that’s fine. But like every other time a TV show adds a gay character we’ll get hit on over the head that the fact that their gay. To be honest I don’t give a crap of anyone’s sexuality on a tv show. I just want to be entertained. I loved SG-1. I liked Atlantis. But I don’t think that Universe will be my cup of tea. At least there’s the movies for me.
Some of you range from immature to just bigotted. Real world: There are gay people. TV: there are gay people. What’s the fuss? This is not an attempt to sensationalise it and those who think it is apparently haven’t noticed the real world where a minority of people aren’t heterosexual. It’s not a big thing, it’s just an observation and nothing more. It’s not “maybe we’ll make them gay for the lolz”, it’s “some people are gay, maybe some of our characters are”. This should be no more controversial than the decision to cast people of different ethnicities in it,… Read more »
And if it is for ‘social realism’, what a numbers ~LGBT~ demographics for today’s society? 5% or 7%? What a number of straight LGBT-sympathetic people in US? Or it just TV boys trends? Silence…
There is many ‘special’ shows for G, L and other kinds of deviations. Personally I don’t want to watch old sad LGBT-s and it’s problems. BTW I can enjoy watching David Blue pretending and gay, like clown. :)
Why the H#ll do people insist on talking about gays, bringing it up and shoving in our faces. This little article does just that. I find it insulting it is taking up space and in my face. Is there some need for it to be pushed on us? I expect the continuation of good Sci-fi, not social aspects of the side I am not part of, in a bright glowing Marquee screaming you must look, see, and hear gays! Take it to the tabloids, or some freaky parties, or wherver it needs to be but not as the main news… Read more »
Just doing a bit of research, it seems that gay people make up somewhere between 4-10% of the US population. According to this article http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26853832/ 2.6% of characters in prime time this year were gay. That is not representative at all, so Stargate adding a gay character is not ‘shoving it in your face’. And to the people who say it’s going to be all about sex now, or every week ‘who is having sex with who’, how did you possibly get that from the original article? It said there is one gay character and we get to meet her… Read more »
“Let’s get some animals (wink, wink) involved too”
Did you honestly just compare what two consenting adults do in a bedroom to a person assaulting an animial? Why don’t you just go all the way and accuse the show of promoting pedophilia next? Your ‘slippery slope’ argument is ridiculous even if you only consider that homosexuality is legal in the US, but bestiality and pedophilia are not.
I think it is wise to focus on Rob’s comments: They are doing this in an attempt to represent the world as it actually is in SGU’s cast of characters. You can wish there weren’t gay characters on the show (for whatever reasons you have) and you can wish there weren’t gay people in the world (for whatever reasons). But they exist, so I think it’s fair (and yes, even wise) for the show to depict them. This is going to be a character drama about real human beings in extraordinary circumstances. Also, they don’t appear to be after the… Read more »