Published Jan 31, 2026, 1:01 PM EST
Shaun Corley is a Staff Writer for ScreenRant, a position he has held for five years. While he enjoys many types of comics and graphic novels, he has a particular interest in the licensed Star Trek titles.
Star Trek’s most groundbreaking character is one that fans have forgotten. One of the most socially-aware pop culture franchises of all time, Star Trek has excelled at representation. However, one area Star Trek fell behind on was featuring queer characters, but has since corrected this oversight. Yet one queer character was a trailblazer, but does not get credit for it.
Lieutenant Commander Andarithio “Andy” Billups, the Chief Engineer of the USS Cerritos, the primary ship seen in Star Trek: Lower Decks, almost became the first out asexual character in the franchise. In the season two episode “Where Pleasant Fountains Lie,” Billups’ backstory and homeworld are explored.
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 generally defined as a lack of sexual attraction, but in reality it is far more layered and nuanced. It is also relatively new. Whereas there have been centuries of discourse surrounding other queer identities, asexuality did not begin gaining traction until the 2000s. Society’s understanding of this identity is still evolving.
As research into asexuality continued, it soon became clear there were other related identities, grouped under the label “a-spec” (short for “asexual spectrum”). Among them include aromantic, defined as no romantic attraction, and demi, in which attraction depends on a strong emotional bond. There are also different attitudes towards the actual act of having sex.
Characters Such as Jughead and SpongeBob SquarePants Are Breaking New Ground
As asexuality begins to become more mainstream, its representation in pop culture will increase as well. Asexual characters are scarce at the moment, but there have been some who have paved the way, such as BoJack Horseman’s Todd Chavez and Archie Andrews’ best friend Jughead. Others, who are more coded, include SpongeBob SquarePants.
A common misconception about asexuality is that it is the same as celibacy.
Those falling under the a-spec banner face stereotypes. A common misconception about asexuality is that it is the same as celibacy. Nothing could be further from the truth, but the image persists. Furthermore, a-spec groups can sometimes face pushback from even within the larger queer community. For these reasons, asexual representation in the media is more crucial than ever.
Star Trek Fell Behind on Queer Representation
Shows Like Star Trek: Discovery Helped the Franchise Catch Up With the Rest of the Television Landscape
When it comes to accurately depicting queer groups, Star Trek was behind the curve. Gay and lesbian characters began appearing more and more in shows throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, which coincided with one of the peak eras in Star Trek history, but the franchise lagged behind. This did a huge disservice to queer Trek fans.
Then, in 2016, Star Trek introduced its first out, non-coded gay character. Sort of. In the film Star Trek Beyond, it is revealed Sulu has a husband. This was a shout-out to original Sulu actor George Takei, who had come out since the days of The Original Series.
Later entries in the franchise, particularly beginning with Star Trek: Discovery, began expanding queer representation. Discovery featured Star Trek’s first gay couple: Paul Stamets and Doctor Hugh Culber. The show also introduced the first transgender and non-binary characters to the franchise as well. With this came hopes that asexuals might get screen time too.
Star Trek Has Featured Asexual-Coded Characters Before
Star Trek Needs an Asexual Character
While a-spec Star Trek fans have waited, there have been a handful of characters who have been coded. Spock, Data, Odo and Seven of Nine have all been interpreted through an asexual lens. The term “asexual” did not carry a queer connotation when these characters were active, but they share many qualities associated with a-spec identities.
Yet there is no substitute for an out-a-spec character, and here Star Trek is lacking. It is believed that only a small percentage of the population identifies as asexual. That number may increase as the research and literature behind it continue to evolve, but for now, asexuals are very much a minority, reinforcing the need for representation.
Star Trek: Lower Decks Nearly Made Franchise History
Billups Nearly Became Star Trek's First Asexual Character
In “Where Pleasant Fountains Lie,” the Lower Decks writers drop several hints that Billups is asexual. The rituals of his homeworld, Hysperia, require him to have sex in order to obtain his birthright and be king. Billups has zero interest in sex, however, and is more content to work on the impulse engines.
"Where Pleasant Fountains Lie" was written by Garrick Bernard
Perhaps the most overt hint of Billups’ asexuality comes towards the conclusion of the episode. While in Engineering, Billups can be seen eating a slice of cake. The larger a-spec community has adopted cake as a symbol, and the scene of Billups eating a slice while trying to avoid sex sent a massive clue to the audience.
Yet this aspect of Billups’ character was not developed further. It is possible that if Lower Decks had not been canceled, then Billups’ asexuality could have become a bigger part of his story. Furthermore, the term “asexual” was never spoken in the episode. Instead, Billup’s struggles to avoid sex in a world hyperfixated on it became an allegory for asexuals everywhere.
Star Trek Will Have an Asexual Character One Day
Andy Billups Will Be Remembered as a Star Trek Trailblazer
Image via Paramount+While a-spec individuals may have felt disappointment with the lack of followup for Billups’ being asexual, it is important to keep in mind change and progress can be incremental, as frustrating as it is. Asexuality is new, as noted earlier, and it is only a matter of time before Star Trek introduces an asexual character.
Yet if they do get around to creating the franchise’s first asexual character, then the importance of Andy Billups’ becomes even more apparent. He blazed a path for asexuals in the Star Trek universe, showing they have a place not only in the 24th century, but in the larger galaxy as well.
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