"I won't pretend that I wasn't scared to take on this role. Part of me still is. Not because of the character himself, but because I knew the reaction that could come with it."
"But what matters more is this: over the past few weeks since this show premiered, I've received countless messages from LGBTQ+ people around the world... people who feel seen, validated, and inspired by Jay-Den. Those messages outweigh every bit of negativity. Every single time."
"He imagined a future that expanded who gets to be seen, heard, and valued," he said. "A future where diversity isn't merely tolerated, but celebrated. Jay-Den doesn't exist outside of that tradition. He exists because of it. 'Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations' isn't just a catchy phrase Roddenberry tossed around. I believe he truly meant it."
Karim Diané expressed fear about portraying Jay-Den Kraag, the franchise's first out gay Klingon, due to anticipated negative reactions including homophobia, racism and bigotry. He anticipated some viewers would blur the line between character and actor and recognized potential backlash. He emphasized that messages from LGBTQ+ people worldwide who feel seen, validated and inspired by Jay-Den outweigh negativity. He invoked Gene Roddenberry's vision of a future where diversity is celebrated and cited 'Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations' as genuine inspiration for the character. The role has drawn both criticism and strong supportive responses from fans.
Read at PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news
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