Comments on: To boldly go where no one has gone before.

To boldly go where no one has gone before.

insomnia_lj — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 00:59:25 -0800

To boldly go where no one has gone before. George Takai comes out of the closet! Old Star Trek episodes suddenly become gay kitsch, develop strange, new context. Sexuality: The Final Frontier?

By: tweak

tweak — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 01:13:28 -0800

This is a beautiful post. Thank you.

By: qwip

qwip — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 01:18:54 -0800

Meh, he's gay. So what? Doesn't change anything he did, as it wasn't done with him expressly not being gay. He's a guy who was on a space show. Played a great character and will be know for that. It's just a shame that being gay is such a big deal. Now if you told me some gay-bashing wingnut had just come out, that would be news. But mostly because of the hypocrisy not teh ghay.

By: oh pollo!

oh pollo! — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 01:26:31 -0800

Looking at those pictures - wow - you forget they were ever that young.

By: angry modem

angry modem — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 01:29:21 -0800

sweet

By: fandango_matt

fandango_matt — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 01:29:42 -0800

By: Swandive

Swandive — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 01:30:31 -0800

Man, I hated that show. I'm glad to notice sexuality revelations haven't made the show either better or worse. Good for him coming out though.

By: three blind mice

three blind mice — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 01:32:47 -0800

A gay actor? In Los Angeles? Incredible.

By: qwip

qwip — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 01:33:57 -0800

Dammit Swandive, I'm a doctor, not a television producer...

By: brundlefly

brundlefly — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 01:35:27 -0800

Wow. He's been with his partner for 18 years and it never broke publicly? That's the most amazing thing about this to me... Good on him, though. The last link is fascinating as well. I remember that episode involving Crusher and the symbiote and never considered the weirdness of the ending...

By: Balisong

Balisong — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 01:35:43 -0800

This just in! Formerly young gay man found to be oriental space alien! Developing...

By: RavinDave

RavinDave — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 02:17:33 -0800

So, those "tribble stuffing" rumors were ..... Naw, naw ... must avoid the cheap joke. Read that he's doing the Dysart part in "Equus" now. Saw Nimoy do that several years back. Great play/great part. Very demanding. Would be curious to see Sulu doin it.

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 02:24:49 -0800

But the mystery of his deep voice continues on...

By: Optamystic

Optamystic — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 02:25:46 -0800

"Oh my!"

By: Talanvor

Talanvor — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 02:29:54 -0800

I just want to know if he's going to do anymore VA working for The Simpsons. This is kind of funny too, considering how many women have a thing for his voice. Heh.

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 02:30:30 -0800

Boy, I bet the writers of Sulu slash are just foaming at the keyboards...

By: RavinDave

RavinDave — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 02:34:55 -0800

You guys sure we're not talking about the "evil" Sulu from episode #39, "Mirror, Mirror"? (okay ... ONE cheap joke ... )

By: londonmark

londonmark — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 02:38:51 -0800

This is a wonderful story. It's sad that he felt he had to wait so long to come out but I'm glad he had the courage to do so in the end. It's just a shame that it won't have any effect on the hypocrisy of the entertainment industry. The truth is, the people who worked with George probably knew he was gay all along. The industry is full of gay men and women whose sexuality is a well-known secret. The people in charge are terrified of the public finding out in case they stay away from the theatres or switch off their TV sets.

By: angry modem

angry modem — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 02:41:55 -0800

By: NinjaPirate

NinjaPirate — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 02:47:27 -0800

angry, try it like this: via b3ta

By: Dean Keaton

Dean Keaton — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 02:56:14 -0800

I can hear the slash fan community literally exploding.

By: alumshubby

alumshubby — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 03:01:56 -0800

Didn't one of the movies or the later series have a minor character who was gay?

By: lapolla

lapolla — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 03:03:14 -0800

yay gay, mr. takai! and qwip, that quip actually made me do the awful snort-laugh... dammit!

By: Nelson

Nelson — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 03:18:46 -0800

It's great that he's made such a public announcement. But if you read soc.motss, you knew about QueerSulu back in 1991.

By: RavinDave

RavinDave — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 03:19:19 -0800

IMDB: " ... his name is pronounced 'Ta-kay'. " I must confess, I'll find that easier to remember now.

By: shmegegge

shmegegge — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 03:28:21 -0800

yay!

By: Davenhill

Davenhill — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 03:28:21 -0800

I read about it here. “I’ve been telling people for nearly 20 years that I was gay” said Takei. “But the response I always got was ‘we know you’re gay, George, you’re a Trekkie.’" (spoof)

By: taursir

taursir — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 03:50:38 -0800

Why are they gay kitsch when they weren't gay kitsch before? Why does everyone care what anyone is? Furthermore, if he was already out before this "official" outing, why'd he have to make it official? Also, how the fuck is prancing around shirtless with a sword somehow gay? All that I personally see as gay is perhaps spock looks particularly stylish with that shoulder bag, but then that's because I come from a social group in the u.s. where we lovingly call such shoulderbags fag-bags. ;)

By: notmtwain

notmtwain — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:12:16 -0800

I'm glad Takei made this more explicitly public. I didn't know it but it doesn't change my feelings towards him or the series at all. Sulu wasn't a very romantically or sexually active character in the series (unlike Kirk, Spock, Chekhov or Mckoy) so I don't think there is all that much to reinterpret as "gay kitsch. Now if Shatner came out as gay, that would be a shock almost as big as Rock Hudson's was. I've always loved the original Star Trek series, which premiered when I was only 9. I remember with pride writing in to NBC to keep the series on the air after the second year. There are some terrible episodes, but many of them are still fun to watch almost years later. The fact that Takei had been in an internment camp was also news to me. I hope he talks more about that issue too. The biggest thing I came across in the last year was how much I had under-appreciated Lt. Leslie's (Eddie Paskey) work in the series.

By: Optimus Chyme

Optimus Chyme — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:19:00 -0800

*does that weird Sulu laugh*

By: johngoren

johngoren — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:20:14 -0800

When the cat's away . . .

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:20:48 -0800

I got to hear Takei speak at a convention several years ago. He's brilliant, personable and an all-around nice guy. His personal history is well worth noting, as well-- he's probably one of the highest-profile surviving victims of the WWII-era Japanese-American concentration camps, a shameful piece of history that we seem to be trying to forget. He also had an ill-fated run for public office some years back, which turned into a debacle when his opponent charged, and the courts agreed, that under the Fairness Doctrine (remember that?) Star Trek reruns counted, so every time Mr. Sulu put the Enterprise into warp, Takei's opponent got to rant on TV for an hour about political issues. I've admired George Takei for a long time, and while this particular announcement comes as a surprise to me, the bravery and strength he's showing in making it public does not surprise me at all. It may be time for me to dust off my Sulu impression. "Oh, my...." indeed.

By: RavinDave

RavinDave — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:31:50 -0800

Working Lt. Leslie link.

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:37:19 -0800

Hey Ninja you forgot to give the artist credit.

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:37:22 -0800

Yeah, my gaydar is about .000001 and I knew the guy was gay. I mean come on, who describes something a "a real hoot" who's not someone's grandmother (or Al Gore, who I think is gay). I have to agree with londonmark it's a real shame there is a hypocracy in place that forces people to hide their sexuality. It should stop. Not sure I agree with Franklin Hummel on all points though. I don't have a problem with an openly gay character on whatever show. I think STDS9 has handled some issues on racism very well, avoiding the hackneyed "racism is bad" sort of morality play in favor of some excellent story telling. (The reprogramming story involving Ryker on TNG comes to mind) But as much as I'd like to have seen Beverly Crusher make out with another chick, I think it's as appropriate as say having a gay character who is uncomfortable with kissing a person of the opposite sex. If the orbital mind control lasers caused my wife to want and have a sex change, I suspect I'd be a little uncomfortable with it. No one should be forced to be someone other than who they are.

By: Robot Johnny

Robot Johnny — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:42:55 -0800

If you do the Sulu Dance while wearing tight pants, some people may call you a queen...

By: Robot Johnny

Robot Johnny — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:44:53 -0800

You mean, uh, little baby chickens?

By: alumshubby

alumshubby — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:47:38 -0800

This is gonna lead to some interesting filking sessions at sci-fi conventions....

By: bashos_frog

bashos_frog — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 04:59:29 -0800

Maybe he's gay because they gave his character a girl's first name.

By: notmtwain

notmtwain — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 05:15:35 -0800

According to Behind the Name, it's a masculine name. HIKARU Gender: Masculine Usage: Japanese Means "light" in Japanese.

By: NinjaPirate

NinjaPirate — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 05:25:01 -0800

if you leave that bug in your ass it will go septic and infect all the others

By: bashos_frog

bashos_frog — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 05:31:10 -0800

I asked my (Japanese) wife, and she said it can be used for both genders. I stand corrected. I guess I just never encountered any male Hikarus, (or Hikkis).

By: donkeymon

donkeymon — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 05:43:08 -0800

It's both a boy's and girl's name. I know boys and girls named Hikaru. Although I think that it's more common as a girl's name.

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 05:44:36 -0800

so, it's "steady as he goes, mr sulu"

By: Busithoth

Busithoth — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 05:46:20 -0800

I, too, thought he was already out. Hmm. Must've been those conventions I attended in the 80s. Hope attendance goes up for his Equus show.

By: PenDevil

PenDevil — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 05:47:24 -0800

Well this puts young wet bitches in a slightly different context...

By: Edame

Edame — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 05:53:43 -0800

There's a six part interview with George Takei on Google Video.

By: raysmj

raysmj — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 06:10:23 -0800

I mean come on, who describes something a "a real hoot" who's not someone's grandmother (or Al Gore, who I think is gay). Plenty of people who are from certain parts of the South--and I'm not saying this to take up for Al. That's coincidental.

By: raysmj

raysmj — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 06:11:52 -0800

Or incidental, rather.

By: Enron Hubbard

Enron Hubbard — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 06:11:55 -0800

I mean come on, who describes something a "a real hoot" who's not someone's grandmother Smedlyman, you're a real hoot. I'll have to tell my grandson to start calling me "Grandma". But your declaration that "No one should be forced to be someone other than who they are", when combined with personal responsibility, is a pretty good one-line definition of freedom.

By: ginbiafra

ginbiafra — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 06:22:05 -0800

Takei ... SECRETS ...

By: kika

kika — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 06:23:38 -0800

Does he do professional sports too?

By: quonsar

quonsar — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 06:26:05 -0800

well this covers todays 'teh gay is so kewl' post. stand by for our regularly scheduled 'spiritual people are teh stoopit' post right after this word from our sponsor. *yawn*

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 06:31:36 -0800

Sorry, q, you're off-base. This is today's "MeFites are a bunch of nerds who like to talk about Star Trek actors" post. Expect the "spiritual people are teh stoopit" post shortly after the Fitzgerald indictments are announced.

By: quonsar

quonsar — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 06:36:54 -0800

damn. i always get those mixed up.

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 06:56:08 -0800

May the force be with him.

By: three blind mice

three blind mice — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 06:59:26 -0800

well this covers todays 'teh gay is so kewl' post. stand by for our regularly scheduled 'spiritual people are teh stoopit' post right after this word from our sponsor. Frustrated by the neo-con agenda? Suffering from erectile disfunction? Concerned about human rights? Worried about poverty, AIDS, global warming, and bad haircuts? Tired of receiving those threatening letters from creditors? Take Metafilter! The only non-FDA approved, doctor ignored, social conscience supplement. Just one little blue screen every 24 hours keeps your moral outrage up - and your guilt about not doing anything about it down. But hurry! Get yours today while supplies last. And now back to our regularly scheduled programming....

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 07:08:31 -0800

Wow. He's been with his partner for 18 years and it never broke publicly? That's the most amazing thing about this to me... Almost as amazing as the revelation that Scotty has only 9 fingers. PS: is Metafilthy busted on this thread for anyone else?

By: scheptech

scheptech — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 07:17:42 -0800

The fact that Takei had been in an internment camp was also news to me. I hope he talks more about that issue too. Yeah well this makes George a lot more unique than being gay. It would be great to know more about his family's experience during that time. The exact same thing happened in Canada. The National Film Board recently made an evocative, touching film about the life of Asayo Murakami, a Japanese Canadian woman 103 years old in 2001.

By: Ben Grimm

Ben Grimm — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 07:22:21 -0800

No wonder he was afraid of the giant "maw" in Star Trek - The Motion Picture!!

By: Optimus Chyme

Optimus Chyme — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 07:27:36 -0800

well this covers todays 'teh gay is so kewl' post. stand by for our regularly scheduled 'spiritual people are teh stoopit' post right after this word from our sponsor. *yawn* posted by quonsar at 6:26 AM PST on October 28 wow more 'edgy' and 'off-the-wall' comments from mefi's most overrated poster oh man maybe you could post a wacky picture that is so quonsar p.s. teh

By: orange swan

orange swan — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 07:35:07 -0800

Wow. He's been with his partner for 18 years and it never broke publicly? That's the most amazing thing about this to me... If public figures really want to keep their lives private, they are generally allowed to do so.

By: nofundy

nofundy — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 07:35:10 -0800

Well, no one else will take the obvious bait so here goes (apologies in advance): The question is not whether no one has gone there before but how many come there.

By: Billistics

Billistics — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 07:38:03 -0800

he's actually on howard stern alot, I wonder if they'll talk about it on the show.

By: davy

davy — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 07:41:16 -0800

What a goofy subject to post about. We need more doggy dildeaux!

By: JeffK

JeffK — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 07:46:45 -0800

Best. FPP. Ever.

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 07:50:12 -0800

Well, Sulu is from San Francisco. I'm surprised he didn't mention this on his blog.

By: Asparagirl

Asparagirl — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 07:51:07 -0800

It's just a shame that it won't have any effect on the hypocrisy of the entertainment industry. The truth is, the people who worked with George probably knew he was gay all along. The industry is full of gay men and women whose sexuality is a well-known secret... Back when my husband was a writer's assistant at a tv-show-that-will-not-be-named, he had to drop off a script at George Takei's house for his upcoming guest starring role on an episode. He got greeted at the door by his partner, who was very nice and asked if my husband wanted to meet George, which he did--I mean, who wouldn't? According to him, they were (are) both lovely people. Takei has been active in a number of the annual GLAAD awards too, so it really wasn't that big of a secret.

By: gorgor_balabala

gorgor_balabala — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 07:53:23 -0800

amen . . . and, 'duh'

By: Asparagirl

Asparagirl — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 07:55:36 -0800

I found this post on Takei's blog about his experiences while interned in a camp in Arkansas as a child to be quite moving.

By: kaseijin

kaseijin — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:01:57 -0800

For some reason, I thought this was already known...but maybe I had just assumed that he was gay?

By: eurasian

eurasian — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:18:38 -0800

Thank you George Takei, for not being cast as the scientist/technician/nerd in Star Trek. Good on you for coming out as well, perhaps will speak to the many Asian (hopefully minorities, perhaps any) gay closetted folks out there and help in some small way.

By: warbaby

warbaby — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:22:09 -0800

Someday, coming out will be as antiquated as "Victorian sexuality."

By: signal

signal — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:38:48 -0800

1) Just because and actor declares his sexuality, doesn't all of a sudden go back and redefine every performance he's ever done. The actor is gay, not the character. Please keep this distinction in mind. 2) Gay |= kitsch. Star Trek was camp/kitsch/teh-suck before anybody started even wondering about the sexuality of its actors. 3) Why this obsession with people's sexuality? Who cares what some (apparently quite pleasant) actor of a lame-ass show which was cancelled before most of us were born is inclined to screw?

By: odinsdream

odinsdream — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:38:51 -0800

This is my surprised face.

By: maxsparber

maxsparber — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:46:06 -0800

This does give new meaning to the scene in which Sulu and Chekov abandon their post to scamper off to the gym together in the "Naked Time" episode. Come to think of it, the episode's title also winds up having a new meaning.

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:48:15 -0800

Or an updated form of debutante balls.

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:49:21 -0800

Sorry, that was an xpost to warbaby.

By: quonsar

quonsar — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:55:29 -0800

wow more 'edgy' and 'off-the-wall' comments from mefi's most overrated poster thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's snark.

By: fluffycreature

fluffycreature — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:56:20 -0800

Star Fleet: Don't ask, don't tell. That's why we didn't know up until now.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:57:14 -0800

and I thought I was mefi's most overrated poster. Damn you quonsar.

By: amberglow

amberglow — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 09:03:17 -0800

I'm proud of him. I'm hoping the recent declarations will start a snowball effect---Tab Hunter, Swoopes, Takei... Who's next?

By: squalor

squalor — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 09:11:06 -0800

Bones: "He's Gay, Jim!"

By: archimago

archimago — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 09:29:05 -0800

Why this obsession with people's sexuality? Maybe because there are certain social circles who still "lovingly" refer to something as a "fagbag."

By: jokeefe

jokeefe — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 09:30:01 -0800

Hmmm. I thought Star Trek TOS was already gay kitsch of the highest order, and always had been, right from the beginning.

By: taursir

taursir — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 09:38:19 -0800

Thank you, Signal.

By: orange swan

orange swan — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 09:48:21 -0800

The actor is gay, not the character. Unless, of course, the actor really can't act. Then the character still comes across as gay. Rock Hudson was never a convincing straight actor. I remember seeing him in a movie as a kid and thinking he didn't seem even slightly attracted to his supposed love interest — he just acted pissed off with her.

By: VanRoosta

VanRoosta — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 09:54:02 -0800

He wrote a pretty good autobiography. It's called "To the Stars".

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 10:05:35 -0800

signal: 3) Why this obsession with people's sexuality? Who cares what some (apparently quite pleasant) actor of a lame-ass show which was cancelled before most of us were born is inclined to screw? If you don't care so much why are you here?

By: quantumetric

quantumetric — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 10:10:42 -0800

Wait, wait, wait, stop right there... Tab Hunter is gay?!?!?!?

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 10:36:08 -0800

Wait, wait, wait, stop right there... Tab Hunter is gay?!?!?!? Next thing they'll be trying to tell us Rip Taylor is gay. Some people.

By: PurplePorpoise

PurplePorpoise — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 10:42:46 -0800

I wonder George's sexuality had anything to do with the animosity between him and Shatner?

By: zoogleplex

zoogleplex — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 10:51:57 -0800

eurasian: "Thank you George Takei, for not being cast as the scientist/technician/nerd in Star Trek." Actually, in the second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before," he was cast as the ship's physicist. Which is definitely a scientist nerd. Happily, with the loss of Gary Mitchell, Sulu got to move to Command and become a pilot. What? Oh... why yes, I am a huge geek. Why do you ask? Anyway, good for you, George! (we all knew already, though.) More famous gay people coming out hopefully leads to 'critical mass' acceptance. Hopefully.

By: brundlefly

brundlefly — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 10:55:49 -0800

If public figures really want to keep their lives private, they are generally allowed to do so. On what planet?

By: scheptech

scheptech — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 10:56:15 -0800

Why this obsession with people's sexuality? People are obsessed with people's sexuality period. Evidence: we're approaching 100 posts, 10% say something else about George including my failed attempt to spark interest in his internment camp experience, and 50% say we already knew he was gay - but we're still talking about the fact he's gay... And on mefi, teh gay gets a special pass despite the ongoing frequency of the topic and, in this case, redundancy of the info. Why? Teh gay is counterculture, subversive, edgy, and especially: proof of cluefullness. It's the civil rights cause of this decade whose aim is to remove all the countercultural, subversive, edgyness out of the topic - or will it?

By: Harry

Harry — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 10:58:07 -0800

So, him being gay changes what, exactly? It's kinda sad, really, that this has to be a News Story (or even an FPP).

By: WolfDaddy

WolfDaddy — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 11:26:58 -0800

On what planet? Planet West Hollywood. Seriously, I've seen a lot of familiar faces down there on Santa Monica--including Takei-- that the media's never outed, unless the celebrity outs themselves or it's a scandal like George Michael's bust. These open secrets make you realize either the media really does respect their privacy or the denizens of West Hollywood do.

By: alumshubby

alumshubby — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 11:55:17 -0800

And he's 68. "Gay Was Good"?

By: lychee

lychee — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:43:38 -0800

See, I get ticked off when people say, "Oh, he's gay. Who cares?" Sexuality is so passe it seems, unless of course like I do, you live in Texas and are about to vote for a stupid proposition to keep me from doing something that this great state already stops me from. As long as the GLBT community doesn't have equal rights, then yes, a person's sexuality is important because that sexuality is being legislated against. *hops of soapbox* I'm going to go early vote now, ciao y'all.

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:44:33 -0800

"...mefi's most overrated poster" You called?

By: pracowity

pracowity — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 14:14:28 -0800

HIKARU Gender: Masculine Usage: Japanese Means "light" in Japanese. And no one noticed that "Sulu" means "in the loafers."

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:18:04 -0800

“I wonder George's sexuality had anything to do with the animosity between him and Shatner?” posted by PurplePorpoise at 10:42 AM PST on October 28 [!] I suspect that was caused by the disharmony between Shatner’s ringing inner ear problem and George’s bass voice. What a hoot! ....ok, fun to say, it’s not just for grandmothers.

By: bwg

bwg — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 17:35:55 -0800

MetaFilter: What a hoot!

By: dhartung

dhartung — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 21:27:17 -0800

I, too, thought he was already out. Hmm. Must've been those conventions I attended in the 80s. Heh. This was definitely an open secret in the Trek community. Here's a USENET post from 1996 (here, someone on soc.motss claims he was "out several years ago"). I met him at one; he was well-known as the most personable of all the regular TOS cast, one reason there was a claque pushing the "Captain Sulu" show concept. When he would do appearances, he would deliberately mingle in con suites and his big schtick was the Sunday morning run ... with as many as wanted to join. Great guy. I believe it was there I was told, kinda sotto voce (it was still the 80s), "You know he's gay?" I actually dismissed it as gossip at the time. Ah, here, a 1994 claim that Takei was on the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force list of out gays. In 1991, a post that he was in the gay running club FrontRunners LA. And just because it's cute, a 1985 post on net.startrek (before the Great Renaming!): This same source does not refer to Takei's marital status and since he is the only omission, this suggests that he is not married, but ???? ???? indeed.

By: jonp72

jonp72 — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 23:40:28 -0800

Evidence: we're approaching 100 posts, 10% say something else about George including my failed attempt to spark interest in his internment camp experience OK, I'll bite. Other cool facts about George Takei: (1) He not only has a great singing voice, but appeared in the original cast of Flower Drum Song; (2) He was the major Asian-American activist who helped Tom Bradley get elected as the first black mayor in LA. For helping to deliver the Asian vote, Bradley showed Takei his appreciation by appointing him to the board of the Southern California Rapid Transit District; (3) He served as vice-president of the American Public Transit Association; (4) His first showbiz job was dubbing voices from the Japanese monster movie Rodan into English.

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:41:16 -0800

Maybe because there are certain social circles who still "lovingly" refer to something as a "fagbag." posted by archimago at 9:29 AM PST on October 28 [!] Taursir is 1) a friend fo mine, and 2) not someone who is going to indulge in any homophobic behaviour. You're barking up the wrong tree, pal.

By: Dick Paris

Dick Paris — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 04:00:19 -0800

But it can make for an interesting re-reading. See The Celluloid Closet (1995)