Star Trek’s Most Groundbreaking Character Is the 1 Fans Have Forgotten

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While Star Trek is known for its progressive representation, a truly groundbreaking character often goes unrecognized. The show has historically been ahead of its time in many ways, and has recently improved its inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters. However, one character quietly broke barriers and deserves more recognition as a pioneer.

Andarithio “Andy” Billups, the Chief Engineer on the USS Cerritos – the main ship in the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks – was originally planned to be the first openly asexual character in the Star Trek universe. His history and where he’s from are revealed in the second season episode, “Where Pleasant Fountains Lie.”

The episode all but declares Billups asexual, but does not follow through.

What is Asexuality? The “A” in LGBTQIA+ Explained

Asexuality is Far More Layered Than Many Think

Asexuality is often described as a lack of sexual attraction, but it’s actually a complex identity with many different facets. While discussions about other LGBTQ+ identities have existed for centuries, asexuality only started becoming widely recognized around the year 2000. Because of this, how society understands asexuality is still developing.

As scientists learned more about asexuality, they discovered other related identities, often referred to as “a-spec,” which stands for “asexual spectrum.” These include aromantic individuals, who don’t experience romantic attraction, and demisexual people, who only feel attraction after forming a deep emotional connection. It’s also important to note that people within these identities have varying feelings about sexual activity itself.

Asexual Representation in the Media is Growing

Characters Such as Jughead and SpongeBob SquarePants Are Breaking New Ground

Now that more people are learning about asexuality, we’re starting to see it appear more often in movies and TV shows. While asexual characters are still rare, some shows have already included them, like Todd Chavez from BoJack Horseman and Jughead from Archie. Some characters, like SpongeBob SquarePants, are also thought to represent asexuality, though it’s not explicitly stated.

People who identify as asexual often encounter misunderstandings and stereotypes. One frequent mistake is thinking asexuality is simply choosing not to have sex, which isn’t accurate. This misconception continues to spread, and sometimes even members of the broader LGBTQ+ community don’t fully understand asexuality. Because of these challenges, it’s incredibly important to see asexual characters and stories in the media.

Star Trek Fell Behind on Queer Representation

Shows Like Star Trek: Discovery Helped the Franchise Catch Up With the Rest of the Television Landscape

While other shows started including gay and lesbian characters in the late 1990s and early 2000s – a popular time for Star Trek – the franchise was slow to follow suit. This lack of representation was a real letdown for LGBTQ+ fans of the show.

As a longtime Trek fan, I was really excited when, in 2016, we finally saw some LGBTQ+ representation with Sulu in Star Trek Beyond! It was revealed he had a husband, which was a super cool nod to George Takei, the original actor who played Sulu and came out publicly after The Original Series ended. It felt like a really meaningful way to honor him and add some much-needed diversity to the franchise.

More recent installments of Star Trek, starting with Star Trek: Discovery, have significantly increased LGBTQ+ representation. Discovery notably introduced the first gay couple in Star Trek history, Paul Stamets and Doctor Hugh Culber, and also included the franchise’s first transgender and non-binary characters. This progress led to discussions and hopes for the inclusion of asexual characters in future storylines.

Star Trek Has Featured Asexual-Coded Characters Before

Star Trek Needs an Asexual Character

For a while, fans of Star Trek who identify as asexual have noticed that several characters seem to fit that identity. Spock, Data, Odo, and Seven of Nine are all examples of characters who, while not explicitly labeled as asexual when they first appeared, share many traits commonly associated with asexuality.

There’s really nothing quite like seeing a character who feels truly different, and Star Trek currently falls short in this area. While asexuality isn’t widely understood – and currently represents a small part of the population – understanding is growing. This makes seeing asexual characters on screen even more important, as they are currently underrepresented.

Star Trek: Lower Decks Nearly Made Franchise History

Billups Nearly Became Star Trek’s First Asexual Character

The Lower Decks episode “Where Pleasant Fountains Lie” suggests Billups may be asexual. The traditions of his home planet, Hysperia, demand sexual activity for him to claim his inheritance and become king, but Billups shows no interest and prefers working on the ship’s engines.

One of the clearest indications of Billups’ asexuality appears near the end of the episode. While in the Engineering department, he’s shown eating cake. Within the asexual community, cake has become a recognizable symbol, and the scene of Billups enjoying a slice while avoiding a sexual encounter strongly suggested his identity to viewers.

However, this part of Billups’ personality wasn’t explored much beyond the initial introduction. If Lower Decks hadn’t been canceled, there was potential to delve deeper into his asexuality. Interestingly, the episode never explicitly used the word “asexual.” Instead, Billups’ difficulty navigating a very sexualized world served as a relatable story for asexual viewers.

Star Trek Will Have an Asexual Character One Day

Andy Billups Will Be Remembered as a Star Trek Trailblazer

Image via Paramount+

Some viewers who identify as asexual were understandably disappointed that the show didn’t explore Billups’ asexuality further. However, it’s important to remember that progress often happens gradually, which can be frustrating. As asexuality is a relatively new topic of discussion, it’s likely that Star Trek will eventually include an asexual character.

If the franchise ever introduces its first asexual character, the significance of Andy Billups’ portrayal will become even clearer. He demonstrated that asexual characters have a rightful place within the Star Trek universe, not just in the future, but throughout the entire galaxy.

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2026-01-31 21:50