Riker falls in love with an androgynous alien in a society that forbids it.
The Enterprise works with the J'naii, a species who have no gender and consider such differences to be primitive. Riker works closely with a J'naii pilot, Soren, and the two develop feelings for each other. Soren confesses to being female, which is a crime on her world, and the matter becomes a crisis.
The story is an allegory about intolerance and sexual identity, and was an ambitious attempt for the series. Riker fights for Soren's right to be who she is. The story was noted for its earnest approach, though it also drew some criticism for the way that it handled its theme. It is an episode that shows the series' willingness to address difficult social issues.