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marden · Oct 28, 2005, 01:33 AM

Just heard on CNN Radio. Mr. Sulu from the original Star Trek series is coming out of the closet.

George Takei, Mr. Sulu of 'Star Trek' fame, comes out
Actor likens prejudice against gays to racial segregation
LOS ANGELES (AP) | Oct 27, 8:47 PM

Actor George Takei, best known for his role as Mr. Hikaru Sulu in "Star Trek," came out as homosexual in the current issue of Frontiers, a biweekly Los Angeles magazine covering the gay and lesbian community.

Actor George Takai said, 'The world has changed from when I was a young teen feeling ashamed for being gay.' (AP file photo)
Takei told The Associated Press on Thursday that his new onstage role as psychologist Martin Dysart in "Equus," helped inspire him to publicly discuss his sexuality. Takei described the character as a "very contained but turbulently frustrated man." The play opened Wednesday at the David Henry Hwang Theater in Los Angeles, the same day that Frontiers magazine featured a story on Takei's coming out.

The current social and political climate also motivated Takei's disclosure, he said.

"The world has changed from when I was a young teen feeling ashamed for being gay," he said. "The issue of gay marriage is now a political issue. That would have been unthinkable when I was young."

The 68-year-old actor said he considers himself as "having been out for quite some time." Takei and his partner, Brad Altman, have been together for 18 years.

Takei, a Japanese-American who lived in a U.S. internment camp from age 4 to 8, said he grew up feeling shameful about his ethnicity and sexuality. He likened prejudice against gays to racial segregation.

"It's against basic decency and what American values stand for," he said.

Takei began his acting career in 1959, appearing in "Ice House" with Richard Burton. He joined the "Star Trek" cast as Mr. Sulu, a character he played for three seasons on television and in six subsequent films. Takei has appeared in scores of movies and television shows. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1986.

A community activist, Takei ran for the Los Angeles City Council in 1973. He serves on the advisory committee of the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program and is chairman of East West Players, the theater company producing "Equus." The play closes Dec. 4.

starman · Oct 28, 2005, 01:37 AM

Oh, My!

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Oct 28, 2005, 01:37 AM

That's ****ing hilarious.

marden · Oct 28, 2005, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by starman

Oh, My!

Very quick!

Lateralus · Oct 28, 2005, 01:40 AM

...holy ****.

Aquataris · Oct 28, 2005, 01:45 AM

He will henceforth be known as Rear Admiral Sulu.

starman · Oct 28, 2005, 01:51 AM

Originally Posted by Aquataris

He will henceforth be known as Rear Admiral Sulu.

I haven't actually laughed out loud from something I read here in a while. Good one!

Mike

marden · Oct 28, 2005, 01:51 AM

Originally Posted by Aquataris

He will henceforth be known as Rear Admiral Sulu.

Aquataris · Oct 28, 2005, 01:53 AM

Originally Posted by starman

I haven't actually laughed out loud from something I read here in a while. Good one!

Mike

Always here with thoughtful, mind altering, view changing insight.

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Oct 28, 2005, 02:01 AM

I'd hit it.

Ratm · Oct 28, 2005, 02:12 AM

Originally Posted by starman

Oh, My!

ROTFL

I wonder if he's a top or a bottom.

And no I'm not gay but I do have friends that are so don't even try it!

Chuckit · Oct 28, 2005, 02:23 AM

Originally Posted by marden

Just heard on CNN Radio. Mr. Sulu from the original Star Trek series is coming out of the closet.

We didn't know this before?

driven · Oct 28, 2005, 02:39 AM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

We didn't know this before?

You did?

brapper · Oct 28, 2005, 03:38 AM

Originally Posted by Scandalous Ion Cannon

That's ****ing hilarious.

Will he be popular, in the gay community?

also, what happened to quick replies?

Athens · Oct 28, 2005, 03:52 AM

wow another loser

Chuckit · Oct 28, 2005, 04:01 AM

Originally Posted by driven

You did?

Somehow I always thought so. Weird.

:XI: · Oct 28, 2005, 04:39 AM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

Somehow I always thought so. Weird.

Yeah, there was just something about the way the man holds a phaser...

Oct 28, 2005, 05:42 AM

No suprise here, either.

acadian · Oct 28, 2005, 07:12 AM

And this surprises you people?

Millennium · Oct 28, 2005, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by acadian

And this surprises you people?

I was wondering when someone was going to post that.

dcmacdaddy · Oct 28, 2005, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by acadian

And this surprises you people?

Yeah, the "gay blade" never gave it away for me.

ghporter · Oct 28, 2005, 09:02 AM

Interesting...very interesting. Not "amazingly surprising," but interesting.

As for "Rear Admiral," that's funny-VERY funny, though I don't know if I should be disturbed by either the fact that someone came up with it, or that I found it funny, or both.

Oh, the "Quick Reply" thing is "being worked on."

Shaddim · Oct 28, 2005, 09:46 AM

No surprise here, he owns homes in SF and Key West... dead give away.

Actually, I thought he came out years ago.

Eug Wanker · Oct 28, 2005, 09:50 AM

Heh. I guess he was overcompensating. I always wondered why his voice changed.

Originally Posted by Millennium

I was wondering when someone was going to post that.

Same here.

Originally Posted by starman

Oh, My!

OldManMac · Oct 28, 2005, 10:03 AM

I applaud his courage.

driven · Oct 28, 2005, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by KarlG

I applaud his courage.

It only took him 30+ years to work up to it!

Better late than never I guess.

Kevin · Oct 28, 2005, 10:57 AM

...To boldy go where no man is... err...

OldManMac · Oct 28, 2005, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by driven

It only took him 30+ years to work up to it!

Better late than never I guess.

When you live in a society where you can be killed for who you are, it takes courage, no matter how long.

Randman · Oct 28, 2005, 11:08 AM

Any word on when Tom Cruise will start in Equus?

marden · Oct 28, 2005, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by Athens

wow another loser

<marden opens door of closet and kindly says> Well, that convinces me. You are NOT gay. <marden closes door leaving Athens inside>

Randman · Oct 28, 2005, 11:10 AM

n/m. database error

marden · Oct 28, 2005, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by KarlG

In other news, the President this morning picked one of his cronies to fill the upcoming Supreme Court vacancy, sticking to his time-honored tradition of politcal patronage. When asked about how he arrived at his decision, he stated, "It's easy; I just think 'what would Boss Tweed have did?'"

I think your little 'news story' at the bottom of your posts is a bit clumsy and off the mark and reveals only a cartoonish appreciation for the real strengths and weaknesses of the President. Sorry, but that's what I believe.

marden · Oct 28, 2005, 11:15 AM

How does this happen?

marden · Oct 28, 2005, 11:16 AM

The thingy got hung up and then it repeats my post three times. Eh, come again? And again, and again?

turtle777 · Oct 28, 2005, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Aquataris

He will henceforth be known as Rear Admiral Sulu.

Mwahahahaha

-t

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Oct 28, 2005, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by Athens

wow another loser

You're one of those bitter old queens aren't you

OldManMac · Oct 28, 2005, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by marden

I think your little 'news story' at the bottom of your posts is a bit clumsy and off the mark and reveals only a cartoonish appreciation for the real strengths and weaknesses of the President. Sorry, but that's what I believe.

Good for you. That's one of the neat things about democracy, isn't it?

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

marden · Oct 28, 2005, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by KarlG

Good for you. That's one of the neat things about democracy, isn't it?

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

OK, let's vote.

I say you should change it.

Who here agrees? Who disagrees?

And who would 'hit' a 68 y/o Mr. Sulu?

songoku912 · Oct 28, 2005, 01:58 PM

Not really surprised here.

turtle777 · Oct 28, 2005, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by marden

And who would 'hit' a 68 y/o Mr. Sulu?

Depends with what

-t

jcadam · Oct 28, 2005, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by marden

OK, let's vote.

I say you should change it.

Who here agrees? Who disagrees?

And who would 'hit' a 68 y/o Mr. Sulu?

If 50 is the new 30, what does that make 68?

jcadam · Oct 28, 2005, 02:28 PM

DP, WTF man?

CMYKid · Oct 28, 2005, 03:49 PM

...best Fark headline in recent memory:

anyway, my Trekkie friends say that apparently this hasnt been any secret, what with him always having a boy-toy companion at public appearances and such.

placebo1969 · Oct 28, 2005, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by jcadam

If 50 is the new 30, what does that make 68?

One less than 69. Cue obvious joke now.

glideslope · Oct 28, 2005, 09:19 PM

He was straight until those Tribbles hitched a ride on the Enterprise. Personally, I never cared for his navigational skills. Spock was the real Pilot. Always looking through his little GPS box mounted on the console.