Ian Alexander on his Star Trek: Discovery debut, and being the franchise’s first transgender character

"Forget Me Not" -- Ep#304 -- Pictured: Blu del Barrio as Adira and Ian Alexander as Gray of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. Photo Cr: Michael Gibson/CBS ©2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

NOVEMBER 9, 2020 - For Star trek: Discovery’s Ian Alexander, being the first openly transgender Asian-American actor on television has opened up a world of possibilities for public representation of the transgender community. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, the 19-year-old actor discussed what it means to him to be working in the industry as a voice for transgender people, and what it’s like for him, playing the first transgender character on Star Trek.

Alexander made his television debut on the Netflix series The OA in the role of Buck Vu, another transgender character. Joining the cast of Discovery as Gray has further expanded the playing field in an industry which, as Alexander says, has long seen the transgender community as “taboo” and “negative”. As his career has progressed, he has seen a positive response from the trans community and is excited to bring the Gray character to screens, saying, “People have not really seen trans people, especially not a trans masculine person in a mainstream show as huge and immensely worldwide popular as Star Trek. So I'm very, very excited for that impact that [...] my character, Gray, and Blu del Barrio's character, Adira [...] will have on the world, especially for trans teenagers and trans people in general.”

For Alexander, the television landscape is going through a visible change, as more and more roles for non-binary and trans characters are being developed and the acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community continues to grow. “I'm really, really excited to keep seeing progress,” he said. “And also maybe eventually be able to one day work on a set where there's trans people behind the camera and in front of the camera. And I'm not just one of one, or one of two.”

Alexander has found a comfortable family in the cast and crew of Star Trek: Discovery, one that has helped him to see his own value and potential. When asked how the role of Gray has helped him on his personal journey, Alexander responded saying, “I think playing Gray really has reassured a lot of my own self-confidence, and really boosted that belief and faith that I have in myself [...] I'm really grateful for that experience.”

Alexander is an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and hopes to continue to use his platform in the public eye to inspire others to pursue their dreams. “I hope that people are uplifted and inspired and empowered by the things that I say and the content that I put out there online,” he said. “I really want to encourage trans people to not wait around for someone to give them permission to create something [...] Do whatever [you can] to make your story visible and to put yourself out there.”

To read the full interview, head over to ETonline.com, and be sure to watch Ian Alexander as Gray in his Star Trek: Discovery debut, with episode four “Forget Me Not” now available to stream on CBS All Access.