(1987-1994, Starring Sir Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Lavar Burton, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn, and Wil Wheaton; TV-PG)
S5.E17 Riker enters into a dangerous liaison with a member of the androgynous J'naii race, who considers herself to only have one gender, a crime in J'naii society. Since its inception, Star Trek has pushed boundaries by tackling profoundly important human issues—racism, diversity, capitalism, and more. "The Outcast" was intended to be the episode that finally acknowledged non-heterosexual relationships. Before his death, franchise creator Gene Roddenberry had expressed support for including LGBTQ+ characters in the series. While no such characters ever officially joined the main cast, this episode was designed as commentary on sexual-identity-based prejudice. Upon release, it proved divisive—even within the LGBTQ+ community itself.
