Despite breaking barriers in the areas of science and race, the various Star Trek shows have always punted when it came to introducing openly gay characters. The franchise producer, Brannon Braga says he feels the show's executives were guilty of repeatedly concentrating on other social issues. Attempts were actually made to bring gay characters into the series, but they were always vetoed. Braga says that he feels if those same scripts were presented today, they would have been accepted. Actor George Takei, who was a regular in the original series, came out some years ago and now lives an openly gay lifestyle. For more click here