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Trek For Equality

Armin Shimerman and his partner Kitty Swink announced the foundation of their initiative, Trek For Equality.

By Silek Sat 05 Jun, 2021 1:21 PM - Last Updated: Wed 09 Jun, 2021 10:54 AM
It seems like the Star Trek crew have always been a socially conscience bunch. It’s hard to be a Trek fan without being regaled with the franchise history and the allegory provided by some of The Original Series’ episodes. Awareness, defiance and and a willingness to jump head-first into some of the most complex issues of the day, are baked right into our culture.

We are told, these kinds of attitudes have often been prevalent in the sci-fi / fantasy communities. It has been speculated that people who tend to look to the future with a sense of hope, or those who find it easier to see things the way they are now, with the potential of getting better, tend to find themselves siding with those espousing the virtues of decency, tolerance, and fairness.

With a pedigree of culture such as this, and what many would call a continuing pattern of support, you would be correct to assume that these attitudes extend beyond the writers room and a showrunners decision. glaadcollection
The ST: Discovery GLAAD Collection


Beyond the dedicated TREK Pride commerce section on their website offering everything from Trek Pride blankets and tshirts to socks and facemasks, ViaComCBS has also partnered with GLAAD, offering, The Star Trek: Discovery GLAAD Collection, donating 100% of profits to the advocacy group.

There can be a valid argument anytime a corporation takes a position on a social issue. Many believe such attempts may be disingenuous, or at worst blatant pandering. I leave it to each individual to interpret this as they see it, but there is no doubt Trek is attempting to walk the walk by leaving no room for misinterpretation on where they publicly stand with inclusion and diversity. ShimermanSwink
Armin Shimerman and Kitty Swink


In what has been collaborative effort in the works for some time, this week Armin Shimerman, best known for his portrayal as Quark on ST: Deep Space Nine, and his partner, prolific actress and producer Kitty Swink announced the foundation of their initiative, Trek For Equality.

Talking to StarTrek.com Shimerman explained that the overwhelming support from the Trek community found him with a group of people who not only wanted to endorse the idea, but actually contribute to its creation as well.

Shinerman said, “In fact, so many people who endorsed our Trek For Equality statement took an active role in shaping it, doing everything from suggesting nonprofits we should include to connecting us with others who wished to support this. Rather than concentrate on a single issue, the goal was to address numerous causes and amplify this profound message through our common belief in Star Trek’s values. This statement is what all people of conscience and goodwill should stand up for. It's not enough to personally live long and prosper, we must also seek that blessing for our friends, neighbors, and community. Rule of Acquisition #251: ‘Humanity is all our business.’”

Shimermans’ excitement for the project was evident, as was his apparent delight with the real support he found himself surrounded with. He continued, “Our mission was perhaps as unofficial as that new Rule of Acquisition, but every supporter demonstrated enthusiasm, particularly as we circled back to get their input on revisions to the statement. Each endorser is respected for their contributions to Star Trek, but this was never intended to be a hollow presentation of celebrity fame. Hopefully, those reading this will focus on the organizations we’ve recommended and assist them in making a difference.”



TREK FOR EQUALITY

As our society grapples with a global pandemic, we can not ignore the social issues which endanger so much of our population, particularly those in marginalized communities. If we have learned anything from the inclusive and optimistic future envisioned by Star Trek, it is that we must take bold steps and support those who offer genuine solutions to the problems that oppose the forward-thinking values that we cherish.

As actors and artists, we have identified several enterprising organizations that have taken it upon themselves to stand defiantly, voyage into the future, and discover humanity’s true potential to overcome intolerance and embrace equality. We encourage you to learn more about the following areas of need, and if you are up to the challenge, to get involved with these organizations:

SPEAK OUT AGAINST
RACIAL INJUSTICE
Equal Justice Initiative (https://eji.org)

ADVANCE
LGBTQ+ RIGHTS
The National LGBTQ Task Force (https://www.thetaskforce.org)

SUPPORT
THE AAPI COMMUNITY
Stop AAPI Hate (https://stopaapihate.org)

STAND
FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS
National Organization for Women (https://now.org)

REFORM GUN
LAWS
Everytown for Gun Safety
(https://www.everytown.org)

ENDORSED BY
Noah Averbach-Katz • Kristin Bauer • Jim Beaver • Casey Biggs • John Billingsley • Isa Briones • Dominic Burgess • Santiago Cabrera • Hannah Cheesman • Conrad Coates • Wilson Cruz • John de Lancie • Jonathan Del Arco • Evan Evagora • Spencer Garrett • Greg Grunberg • Michelle Hurd • Adil Hussain • Clyde Kusatsu • Dorren Lee • Chase Masterson • Gates McFadden • Robert Duncan McNeil • Anthony Montgomery • Simon Pegg • Robert Picardo • Alison Pill • Robert Pine • Anthony Rapp • Rod Roddenbery • Tim Russ • Jeri Ryan • Raphael Sbarge • Armin Shimerman • Alexander Siddig • Marina Sirtis • Kitty Swink • George Takei • Liz Vassey • Patti Yasutke


Let us know what you think in the comments.


WRITTEN AND EDITED BY Silek
IMAGES SOURCED FROM StarTrek.com AND ScienceFiction.com
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