‘Star Trek’ Just Introduced Its First Queer Klingon — And It’s Sparking Major Fan Reactions

Star Trek is once again pushing its universe forward with a new storyline that has fans talking. The latest series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, has slowly built momentum this season. Recent episodes raised the stakes with a major character death, the return of an old enemy, and ongoing mysteries about secret weapons, a hidden spy, and the missing mother of a cadet played by Tatiana Maslany.

Now episode seven has shifted the spotlight to Jay-Den Kraag, a Klingon cadet played by Karim Diane. The episode strongly confirms that Jay-Den is queer. While the show does not give him a specific label, it clearly shows that he is in a romantic relationship with human student Kyle Djokovic.

The confirmation comes through their on-screen behavior, including a kiss and open affection. Any doubt was addressed off-screen as well. Jay-Den’s co-star George Hawkins spoke to ScreenRant and said, “Jay-Den’s place in that role is obviously romantic. There’s romantic interest there.”

The episode also centers on another cadet, Darem, who is facing an arranged marriage. Jay-Den becomes involved in the situation and is pulled into the wedding plans. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Jay-Den and Darem share a strong emotional connection. Hawkins explained this dynamic in more detail during his interview with ScreenRant.

He said, “The relationship between Jay-Den and Darem is really interesting because Jay-Den plays a mirror to Darem. Jay-Den is a really sobering person and character in Darem’s story because he calls him out. He’s the first person at the Academy to actually tell him the truth about who he is, that he is sort of a coward, really, and he has a mask. Jay-Den sees behind that mask, and it’s a really beautiful thing to witness in this episode, especially.”

He added, “Jay-Den’s place in that role is obviously romantic. There’s romantic interest there. But deeper than that, not just attraction, but the reason why these two people sort of get closer and closer, I think, is because they bring something out of each other, and that thing that they bring out is the truth. And I think that’s what we’re all searching for.”

This creates tension in the story. Jay-Den appears committed to Kyle, but there are clear hints that he also has feelings for Darem. The show has not confirmed Darem’s sexuality. It also has not explained how Klingon culture in this era handles relationships like this.

That question matters because past Trek series have shown Klingons as strongly loyal to one partner. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Worf reacted strongly to cheating and saw it as dishonorable. Klingon bonds were often shown as lifelong and serious.

If the new series allows Jay-Den to explore feelings for more than one person, it could mark a shift in how Klingons are portrayed. Some viewers may see it as growth and modern storytelling. Others may feel it changes long-standing traditions in the franchise.

This storyline shows that Star Trek is still willing to take risks. The franchise has always reflected social change in its own way. Exploring a queer Klingon character feels like a natural step for a series that often talks about identity and truth. The real test will be how the show handles the cultural side of it. What do you think about this new direction? Do you support the change, or do you prefer the older portrayal of Klingon values? Share your thoughts in the comments.