Cameron Bess, the child of venture capitalist and tech executive Lane Bess, will become the first out pansexual person to go into space this Saturday – just days after Pansexual Pride Day, which is today – on Blue Origin’s third flight into space.
“He grew up launching model rockets, and when I was a kid, he would do the same with me,” Cameron told the Canadian LGBTQ publication Xtra about their father. “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.”
Related: Astronaut Sally Ride will be the first out LGBTQ person on United States currency
Blue Origin is a company started by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos that offers tourists a chance to go into space. Their first launch was this past June.
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Cameron and their father will be on the Blue Origin’s launch into space tomorrow along with Good Morning America co-host Michael Strahan, Voyager Space CEO Dylan Taylor, investment banker Evan Dick, and Laura Shepard Churchley, the daughter of Alan Shepard, the first American to go into space in 1961.
The ship will be in space for about 11 minutes and experience zero gravity.
“Hey guys, it’s official!!” tweeted Cameron Bess last month. “I will be an astronaut very soon!!”
Hey guys, it's official!!
I will be an astronaut very soon!! https://t.co/AN8HD9OoPQ
— MeepsKitten (Cameron Bess) (@MeepsKitten) November 23, 2021
Bess, who is also a furry, said that they will bring a small paw with them because they aren’t allowed to bring their full cat fursuit, for which they are known on Twitch.
They will also bring a pansexual Pride flag.
“I know many people have told me it means a lot to see a pansexuality Pride flag in space,” they said. “I’m just happy to provide visibility.”
The launch was originally set for tomorrow but was moved to Saturday due to weather.
Bess will not be the first LGBTQ person to go into space. That honor goes to Sally Ride, who in 1983 became the first American woman in space. She was closeted until her death from cancer in 2012, and her obituary revealed that she had a female partner for 27 years.
Blue Origin did its first crewed launch into space in July 2021. Jeff Bezos and his brother Mark Bezos were on it.
In October, Star Trek star William Shatner went to space with Blue Origin, making him the oldest person to go to space at age 90.
They explained more about the launch in a YouTube video.
