Out of prison, into the jungle
By Joe Nguyen
nguyejos@mscd.edu

Photo by Matthew Jonas • jonasm@mscd.edu

Actor George Takei signs autographs after speaking April 25 at St. Cajetans Center while on a U.S. tour for a Human Rights Campaign. Takei spoke about gay marriage, Hollywood, and his recent announcement that he was gay. He is most well known for his role as Mr. Sulu on “Star Trek.”

   George Takei shared his experiences about being gay and growing up as a Japanese American on Tuesday in St. Cajetan’s Center.

    The 69-year-old actor is best known for his role as Lt. Hikaru Sulu on “Star Trek.” He came out publicly last year and is now on a lecture tour across the country.

   “ I’m proud to stand before you today as a gay American and a member of the Human Rights Campaign advocating for the expansion of justice and equality,” he said.

    He began his speech about growing up during World War II, when his family was ordered out of their Los Angeles home by American soldiers and placed into internment camps.

   “ When I was a boy, I looked out on the world from behind the barbed-wire fences of American internment camps,” he said. “Pearl Harbor was bombed, and overnight, Japanese Americans were seen as the enemy, simply because we looked like (the attackers).”

    He compared the injustices of those days with the treatment of gays, such as the lack of same-sex marriages, in today’s society.

   “ Why are they being so protective (about same-sex marriages)?” he said. “Do they feel that marriage is so fragile that they need to protect it?”

    According to hrc.org, Takei has been living with his partner, Brad Altman, for the past 18 years. They have been waiting for the same-sex marriage law to pass in California.

   “ We thought about Massachusetts or Canada, but we didn’t live in Massachusetts and we’re not Canadian,” he said. “We wanted it to be real.”

   He urged the audience for more participation to “engage challenges” and work toward equality.

   “ Together, we will boldly go where America has never gone before,” he said.

    Takei said that, while “Star Trek” addressed the issue of ethnic diversity, it failed to cover the “diversity of sexuality” because it was taboo to bring it up during the 1960s. His co-stars were aware of his preference, however.

   “ My colleagues are sophisticated, worldly Hollywood actors,” he said. “They have sensitive antennas.”

    He said Walter Koenig was the first one to indicate he knew. On the set, an attractive male extra walked by the two of them and Koenig nudged Takei and gave him a suggestive look.

    He said that it was difficult for lesser-known actors to find work if they were gay. Producers typically didn’t hire actors with “extra baggage.”

    Takei said he feared it would be difficult to find work once he came out to the press, but he’s made more guest appearances since.

   “ I probably would have not been on ‘Will and Grace’ if I had not (come out)” he said. “Because I was appearing as a character named George Takei, who was gay.”
He said in America’s free society, people have the right to say what they want.

   “ We have to be tolerable of the diversity of America,” he said, “and that includes stupid people and racist people.”