I was the only one who thought this of Erica Ortega was non-binary or trans man? (startrek.website)

submitted 23 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) by cuchi@startrek.website to c/startrek@startrek.website

33 comments fedilink hide all child comments

When I started watching the series, I had this doubt. As the three seasons went by, I came to the conclusion that she was simply a woman.

There was a character in the Fallout series, Dane, and I completely missed the fact that they were non-binary. I thought they were more of a tomboy character, but no—the character is non-binary, and the actor is a trans man, if I'm not mistaken.

I want to know if I was the only one who thought Erica might be the same case.

It's weird to say because I usually try not to make assumptions about people, but sometimes I feel rude for not noticing these things sooner.

top 33 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[-] hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 3 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

For some reason, La'an Noonien-Singh and Erica Ortegas always remind me of the Belters from The Expanse. No idea if it's the make-up or hairstyle. Wonder if that's just me... But every other scene I expect them to drop the fake accent, speak Belter language and plot against someone. Especially La'an sometimes shows character traits which go roughly that direction. Make-up art also fits.

[-] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 5 points 9 hours ago

They both have VERY strong Camina Drummer energy.

[-] GeeDubHayduke@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 7 hours ago

BELTA LOWDA!

[-] dkppunk@piefed.social 21 points 21 hours ago

I didn’t, but I’m also a short haired woman who sometimes behaves the way she does and isn’t super girly.

I just thought she was the hottest person on the bridge of that starship, regardless of gender.

[-] cuchi@startrek.website 8 points 17 hours ago

For me the hottest is Pike, is a very handsome man and his hair is cool as hell.

[-] dkppunk@piefed.social 2 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

Captain Pike is a close second in my book. I adore his hair and he’s super fucking handsome!

[-] haverholm@kbin.earth 1 points 7 hours ago

Wait, Christina Pike is a man? /s

[-] cuchi@startrek.website 1 points 1 hour ago

You thought it Pike was a grandma for his white hair? /s

[-] SharkWeek@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 18 hours ago

Agreed, she looks like a younger version of my wife, but acts more feminine. Also yes to the hotness.

[-] cattywampas@lemmy.world 32 points 23 hours ago

What made you assume that? Because she has short hair? She used feminine pronouns the entire time and they never made mention of her biological sex.

[-] lordnikon@lemmy.world 17 points 22 hours ago

Yeah I mean she was gender swamped from her TOS counterpart. But really the beauty of star trek is it really shouldn't matter. She was pilot first that happens to identity as a woman and likes her hair styled that way.

That is what was star trek all about is not about calling out each identity, race and culture in celebration in an after school special kind of way but to normalize all kinds of people being up on that bridge.

[-] cuchi@startrek.website 3 points 22 hours ago

she was gender swamped from her TOS counterpart.

What you mean with this? I didn't understand.

[-] generallynonsensical@piefed.ca 9 points 21 hours ago

I'm assuming they meant "swapped" and not swamped.

Unless gender swamping is a thing now. I can't keep up.

[-] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 2 points 9 hours ago

Gender swamping sounds like some kind of agender thing I'm too old to understand and will just nod along with.

[-] lordnikon@lemmy.world 5 points 22 hours ago

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Tyler

[-] Cris_Citrus@piefed.zip 2 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

That link seems broken for me, it says "bad title"

[-] cuchi@startrek.website 4 points 18 hours ago

I can see it.

[-] lordnikon@lemmy.world 3 points 20 hours ago

Weird just search José Tyler that's the character she is based on

[-] haverholm@kbin.earth 2 points 7 hours ago

José Tyler that's the character she is based on

Nope, she's clearly a completely different character. Tyler would have been on the crew during "The cage", which takes place before the events of Discovery s2. According to his Memory Alpha entry:

By 2258, Tyler would be superseded as navigator by Lt. Amin. (DIS: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2")

Also, Tyler is listed on Memory Alpha as navigator, Ortegas as senior helmsman. Sure, it's a fan wiki, but Trekkies are sticklers for these things.

[-] hallettj@leminal.space 3 points 20 hours ago

I think this is the correct link, for José Tyler: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Tyler

[-] Cris_Citrus@piefed.zip 1 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

Weirdly that link doesn't work for me either 😅 I figured it was just my browser but it didnt work in chrome, firefox, or cromite, so something is fucked up on my end, but I dunno what it is lol

Edit: yeah, something is jank with it on my end, I just opened it via search, the link was the same. I copy pasted it into another tab and that worked fine. And then I put it in a comment in my lemmy client and clicked on the URL and it didnt work just like with yours 🤷🏻‍♂️ who knows lol

[-] LadyMeow@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 22 hours ago

A bit tomboyish, maybe. She was quite dashing as the knight from the fantasy book episode. And definitely had a thing going with the ranger character.

[-] cuchi@startrek.website 5 points 22 hours ago

I forgot about being the knight of a fantasy book during that episode, well, that something else who make me doubt she was a female.

[-] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 9 points 22 hours ago

Doubt why? Unless they are actually labeling her as trans or non-binary in the show there shouldn't be any reason to doubt what she presents herself as. In Discovery they had a non-binary character (Adira) and addressed it head-on before SNW was even airing.

[-] cuchi@startrek.website 2 points 22 hours ago

My doubt it was if she was a woman with short hair or actually a transgender man.

Not all person introduce as trans, so I feel like a fool when I find out Dane in Fallout was a man, I thought it was a woman with short hair like the case of Erica.

[-] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 7 points 21 hours ago

I'm sure this is a cultural/language thing, but saying you "felt like a fool" sounds pretty odd. Nobody is trying to trick you here. These people are just living their lives and working as actors. Their gender identity shouldn't really matter toward the character or story unless the show wants to specifically highlight it like in the case of DSC.

[-] cuchi@startrek.website 3 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

Her behaviour, a little bit the short hair but more the way she act, I was expecting in one episode to hear something like "My pronouns are they". Also, even if I saw the serie on english, I give more attention to the spanish subtitles, so pronouns are used slightly different.

It was my fault for having my doubts, but also when I didn't in first season of Fallout series it was actually trans, I'm wrong of don't saw it before?

[-] Kirk@startrek.website 11 points 23 hours ago

I have to ask how does someone behave trans lol

[-] alx@piefed.blahaj.zone 6 points 21 hours ago

Drink monsters and perform double jumps, mostly /j

[-] cuchi@startrek.website 4 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

I used to have a trans classmate in my high school who reminds me to Erica Ortega.

[-] thezeesystem@piefed.blahaj.zone 11 points 22 hours ago

I thought she was too. Then it made me sad she wasn't. The main reason is because I know a lot of non-binary people who kinda look And act in the same kinda way so I guess I was just presuming she would be.

But if course of she was explicitly non-binary they wouldn't be able to have more then 2 seasons because of waves at everything.

But yeah I did too.

[-] ProfThadBach@lemmy.world 1 points 20 hours ago

I have always thought of her as a woman but really that haircut does nothing for her.

[-] cuchi@startrek.website 2 points 17 hours ago

Don't take me wrong, I used to been a long hair man and people think I was a woman, but it was for more reasons than just the haircut, but I cannot explain exactly why I thought she gonna be a non-binary or trans male.

this post was submitted on 29 May 2026

33 points (82.4% liked)

Star Trek Social Club

14758 readers

149 users here now

r/startrek: The Next Generation

Star Trek news and discussion. No slash fic...

Maybe a little slash fic.

Rules

1 Be constructive

All posts/comments must be thoughtful and balanced.

2 Be welcoming

It is important that everyone from newbies to OG Trekkers feel welcome, no matter their gender, sexual orientation, religion or race.

3 Be truthful

All posts/comments must be factually accurate and verifiable. We are not a place for gossip, rumors, or manipulative or misleading content.

4 Be nice

If a polite way cannot be found to phrase what it is you want to say, don't say anything at all. Insulting or disparaging remarks about any human being are expressly not allowed.

5 Spoilers

Utilize the spoiler system for any and all spoilers relating to the most recently-aired episode. There is no formal spoiler protection for episodes/films after they have been available for approximately one week.

6 Keep on-topic

All submissions must be directly about the Star Trek franchise (the shows, movies, books, etc.). Off-topic discussions are welcome at c/Quarks.

7 Meta

Questions and concerns about moderator actions should be brought forward via DM.

Upcoming Episodes