idle thought #27

With all due respect to George Takei, there's absolutely no reason why Beyond would mean that his character would have had to be closeted.  It's bi-erasure in the fact that the idea doesn't even occur.  Also (and it's highly probable that they'd understand this better in the future) one relationship does not a sexuality make!  I would think in the world of Star Trek in the future, with attraction to aliens as a viable option, people would get that yeah, okay, maybe you have specific types, or are just open to whatever relationships come your way, or are in it for the personality, rather than assuming or throwing labels around. I feel representation is best done when it's just treated as normal, not worth commenting on or pointed out, and it was done brilliantly in the movie, where Jim's just happy for his subordinate and not being the stereotypical Straight Guy or even really being shocked.  We shouldn't judge people
for who they like, and it's interesting and kinda sad that Takei's mind immediately went 'it makes my character
closeted' rather than 'oh, it adds another dimension to my character; he was actually bisexual or mostly straight'.
It's probably because it hits close to home and therefore he's reacting emotionally rather than intellectually.