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"My entire life I've wanted to make people who feel like they didn't have a place feel welcome."
Space is about to get queerer and furrier. Streamer Cameron Bess is set to be the first out pansexual person and the first furry to fly to space on the Blue Origin's third space flight, scheduled for December 11.
Originally set for December 9, the flight was delayed due to weather. The flight comes only a few days after Pansexual Pride Day that took place on December 8.
Bess will go up with their father, venture capitalist and technology executive Lane Bess. The two will be the first parent-child duo to travel to space.
"[My father] grew up launching model rockets, and when I was a kid, he would do the same with me," Bess told the Canadian LGBTQ+ site Xtra. "When he was offered the opportunity to fulfill that dream with Blue Origin, he decided he wanted to bring me along. So in simple terms: I have a really great dad."
\u201cHey guys, it's official!!\n\nI will be an astronaut very soon!!\u201d— Astronaut Meeps (@Astronaut Meeps) 1637676336
Bess and their father will travel to space along with Good Morning America cohost Michael Strahan, Voyager Space CEO Dylan Taylor, investment banker Evan Dick, and Laura Shepard Churchley. Churchley is the daughter of Alan Shepard, who was the first American to travel to space, in 1961.
The group will be in space for about 11 minutes where they'll experience zero gravity.
The streamer will bring with them a small paw representing the furry community as well as a Pride flag.
"I know many people have told me it means a lot to see a pansexuality Pride flag in space," they told Xtra. "I'm just happy to provide visibility."
\u201cHow do I look?\n\n#NewShepard\r #NS19\u201d— Astronaut Meeps (@Astronaut Meeps) 1638740948
Blue Origin comes from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. The company offers tourists a chance to visit space. It had its first visit in June.
Prices for the seats haven't been revealed. A previous seat on one of the Blue Origin flights was auctioned for $28 million, according to Business Insider.
Bess said they know they aren't doing anything earth-shattering, but they hope they can inspire people to be themselves.
"My entire life I've wanted to make people who feel like they didn't have a place feel welcome," Bess told Xtra. "I'm no hero here; I'm just going for a ride."
They added, "I'm just super glad that my father is able to love me for who I am and that will be the page in history."
