Gay kiss was cut from Star Trek Beyond

by Grace Babb
Journalism Intern

For decades, LGBT characters have been scarce in high budget films. In recent years, the trend has slowed, with a gay couple featured in Independence Day: Resurgence, and a lesbian character, played by Kate McKinnon, in the new Ghostbusters film.

Recently, Star Trek Beyond revealed actor John Cho’s character, Sulu, as having a male partner in the new sci-fi sequel, but was supposed to include more physical affection, says Cho.

In an interview with Vulture, Cho described the scene that was reportedly edited out: “It wasn’t like a make-out session. We’re at the airport with our daughter. It was a welcome-home kiss. I’m actually proud of that scene, because it was pretty tough.”

Cho disclosed his personal worries regarding his character’s sexual orientation in the Vulture interview:

“I was concerned also that there might be Asian-American backlash. There has been this feminization of Asian men, so I thought this might be seen as continuing that lineage, which I disagree with personally, but I brought it up. I was also concerned, scientifically speaking [laughs], that we’re in an alternate universe but I’m assuming that Sulu is the same genetic Sulu in both timelines, and I thought we might be implying that sexual orientation was a choice. Does this sound super overthought?”

He also explained how his husband in the film ended up being played by screenwriter Doug Jung.

“We were in Vancouver first and we finished up the production in Dubai and that scene was in Dubai and I was like, ‘Hey, so who'd you get?’ They were like, ‘We can't find anybody! Doug may have to play him!’ It started out as a joke. I was like, ‘Haha.’ And then at some point they were not joking. We definitely had trouble finding East Asians first off, and then actors willing to play gay. We had a guy and then his parents really objected. Basically, we couldn't find an Asian actor willing to play gay in Dubai is my understanding.”

According to The Guardian, George Takei, who originally played the character in the TV show, was both “delighted” with the decision to include an LGBT character in the film but disappointed that it was Sulu.

Takei’s first reaction was not an objection to the character’s sexual orientation, but rather that it “wasn’t canon,” said Cho.

 “While I understand that we are in an alternate timeline with the new Trek movies, for me it seemed less than necessary to tinker with an existing character in order to fulfill Gene’s hope of a truly diverse Trek universe,” Takei said in a Facebook post.

Simon Pegg, co-writer of the script, was firm on his take of the scene, and discussed the possibility of the relationship being furthered in future films.

“It’s not coy,” he said. “You have to modulate in such a way that it doesn’t become a big thing. That was one of the reasons why we made it an existing character because it felt like part of the fabric. If the story evolves in the next film to feature his personal relationship in some way then of course it will, but if it doesn’t then it won’t because it’s all about the good of the story rather than doing it for the sake of it.”

Copyright 2016 The Gayly – 7 /21/16 @ 3:00 PM  CDT