You can't really understand it until you're here. Something about this place really changes your perspective on things...you feel anything is possible...growing up in Detroit, there wasn't a lot of people like me...you just didn't tell people you were gay.
Will Tyler, in season 3, episode 6, "New Eden"
William Joseph "Will" Tyler is an American astronaut and part of NASA's Sojourner-1 mission to Mars in the mid 1990s. He faced a major controversy when he came out while on Mars. This resulted on Will being discharged upon his return. However, after President Ellen Wilson came out as well, she signed an executive order to allow the LGBT people to serve, as well as awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his bravery.[1]
Some time after returning to Earth, Will Tyler moved to a position in Astronaut Affairs.[2]
History[]
Season 3[]
At some point between 1983 and 1994, Will was part of a Jamestown mission, where he served together with Rolan Baranov. During their time on the lunar base, where they also had shared a bunk, the two became good friends.[3]
After the US spacecraft Sojourner arrived on Mars in February 1995, Will was overwhelmed by the scenery and the fact they really made it. In a video, which was streamed live to Earth, he said that being on Mars changed his perspectives of things and made him feel like anything is possible. He started talking about the time and place he grew up, and finally said that he is gay. His coming-out caused an uproar at NASA and in the White House, and instantly became a hot topic in the news. Tyler's coming-out caused President Ellen Wilson's cabinet to pressure her to do something regarding him. Wilson eventually signed an executive order to make LGBT people ineligible to serve in the military, while making it also illegal to question one's sexual orientation. Due to this, Will Tyler was set to be discharged from his service upon his return to Earth.[3]
Due to his coming-out, his friend Baranov distanced himself from Will because he was worried about his health and a potential infection with AIDS. Will eventually confronted Baranov for being homophobic, and the two got into an altercation, though mission commander Danielle Poole quickly stopped the two.[4] After the Gagarin Ridge drilling disaster, Will and Rolan Baranov were ordered to put their differences aside for the rescue mission. The two later planted explosives inside a lava tube to collapse the debris and free Ed Baldwin and Danny Stevens, who were trapped in one of Helios' HAB rovers.[5]
When Ellen Wilson came out to the world on September 3, 1995, she signed an executive order to rescind her previous one, allowing Will to continue his service and bestowed him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Baranov then expressed his apologies for his previous behavior, and that he was honored to be his friend.[6]
Season 4[]
Will Tyler ran into Danielle Poole, who had a meeting with Eli Hobson. Will revealed he had since been engaged to his boyfriend, Rob and planned on getting married the following Spring. When Poole expressed her doubts on accepting Eli's offer due to being haunted by the past, Will reassured her it wasn't her fault, and she had to do for the rest of the team.[2]
Gallery[]
See also[]
References
- ↑ For All Mankind TV series, season 3
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 For All Mankind TV series, season 4, episode 1, "Glasnost"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 For All Mankind TV series, season 3, episode 6, "New Eden"
- ↑ For All Mankind TV series, season 3, episode 7, "Bring It Down"
- ↑ For All Mankind TV series, season 3, episode 8, "The Sands of Ares"
- ↑ For All Mankind TV series, season 3, episode 9, "Coming Home"