George Takei Stands Up For Gay Trekkie Rights
Since coming out of the closet last year, Star Trek's George Takei has become a formidable gay celebrity role model. The two concepts sit alongside each other quite comfortably, as evidenced in the accompanying photo which ran with his coming out story back in October: Gay Takei, literally staring out at the world through rose-colored glasses as he proudly salutes his fans with the Vulcan shocker. For further proof, watch how the Roddenberrian and queer imagery intermesh effortlessly in this report of the actor lending his voice to a gay rights demonstration in Minneapolis:
Mr. Sulu beamed down to lend support to student gay activists who tried to visit a private Christian university. [...]
The 33 activists are traveling by bus to 19 U.S. colleges with religion-based policies opposed to homosexuality. [...]
After sitting in front of the doors for most of the afternoon, the Soulforce riders and supporters rallied at a park across the street when Takei, who came out as a homosexual last year, stopped by.
The 68-year-old actor said the activists' "equality trek" shares themes with those of the starship Enterprise.
"They have shown courage and character in showing that most people of faith are not extreme reactionaries who oppose equal rights," he said.
Of course, the parallels are obvious: a racially diverse group traveling in a large vessel, bringing with them a message of peace and enlightenment. Still, we wish Takei had ended it there, and not insisted on regailing the students with further gay-themed Trek anecdotes, such as how Uhura's lezzie tendencies would come out when she drank, and the time he "had" two red shirts behind the Klingon throne room set.
