Mr. Sulu was gay?

[Jasun]

I would have rather had Captain Piccard.. oh well..

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/10/102805takei.htm
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(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) Actor George Takei, best known for his role as Mr. Hikaru Sulu in "Star Trek," has come out publicly. He made the announcement in the current issue of LA gay magazine Frontiers.

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 in 1966 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.

[EonFilms_Rocky]

Come on Stern fans! Let's celebrate by doing the Sulu Dance!

"Balloon knot"

Rocky

[basschick]

good for him for coming out publically! and it won't hurt to have another long term gay relationship to point out that gay people are just as capable of a long term commitment

"a communist activist"? he sure didn't mention that or being gay in his autobiography...

[robin]

Here's his interview: http://www.frontierspublishing.com/f...re_second.html

[citiboyz]

I always thought he was cute. Correct me if I'm wrong, but other than Capt. Kirk himself, Sulu was the only actor who did any shirtless scenes in the original series. He had a nice bod.

[XXXWriterDude]

Not WAS gay, Jasun. Takei is still very much alive...

[Jasun]

Didn't Sulu die in the last Star Trek movie?

No, wait, that was Captain Kirk.

Ok, whatever.

Anyway, I was always more attracted to Scotty.:jasun:

[XXXWriterDude]

Anyway, I was always more attracted to Scotty.:jasun:

I was strangely attracted to Kirk back in the day. But I was TOTALLY hot for Scott Bakula. He's by far the hottest Star Trek captain ever in my book.

[Jasun]

Well DUH.

I always wanted to see him and Captain Trip making the monster with two backs.
:jasun:

[desslock]

George Takei's sexual orientation has been pretty much out for a long time. I remember he'd bring his boyfriend with him to Star Trek conventions. It's interesting that now these 70ish year old actors are coming to terms with this publically. Like Richard Chamberlain.

This is also a good moment to observe how much more of a powerful statement an individual coming out voluntarily is.... versus someone being outed against their will for vindictive or political reasons.

Steve

[Sana Chan]

He was and still is a handsome man. I will admit he was the guy who started my asian fetish. I was like, "Wow, Mr. Sulu is so hot. I love his eyes." And the rest is history.