The Triangle

Issue date: 10/16/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Tara Giancaspro

Media Credit: Pete Croteau

George Takei, most famous for his role as the original Hikaru Sulu on "Star Trek," took part in a question and answer session at Drexel University Oct. 14.

The event at the Bossone Research Center was held in accordance with National Coming Out Day, which focuses on awareness and discussion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues and took place Oct. 11.

Takei discussed a variety of subjects including his sexuality, his time in a Japanese internment camp and work on "Star Trek."

Takei publicly came out in 2005, after California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have allowed gay marriage in the state.

Takei said some people knew his sexual orientation unofficially before his public announcement.

After becoming an established actor Takei focused less on hiding his homosexuality.

Takei said his "Star Trek" coworkers were "not only accepting, but supporting" after finding out his sexual orientation.

When he first started his acting career, Takei kept his sexual orientation a secret. He said he did not want his homosexuality to provide another potential obstacle to the difficult task of getting an acting role.

"[I was] living a double life, and the burden that comes with that is there," Takei said. "You carry that burden of not being really true to yourself."

During the program, Takei also answered questions on political issues such as California's Proposition 8, which prohibits gay people from marrying in the state. Voters passed the proposition during the 2008 elections, thereby overturning the state Supreme Court's ruling earlier in 2008 that same-sex marriage was constitutional.

Between the court's decision and the passing of the proposition, Takei and his partner of 21 years, Brad Altman, married in California.

Takei is optimistic that Proposition 8 will at some point be overturned by the court system.

Ted Olson, lawyer for former president George W. Bush during the 2000 election dispute and David Boies, lawyer for Al Gore during the dispute, are working on challenging the proposition in court, according to Takei.

Takei also expressed concern about the U.S. Military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy toward gays. He said the dismissal of key military personnel because of sexual orientation would harm America's security.

Before becoming openly involved in the fight for gay rights, Takei was involved with other causes. He said his father helped instill in him the importance of individuals in democracy.

"He said a true democracy is a participatory democracy," Takei said of his father.

During the pre-event interview, Takei said it is also "equally important that we remind ourselves when the ideals of our democracy falter."

As a child during World War II, Takei and his family were imprisoned in one of the U.S. government's Japanese-American internment camps. Takei called the camps "one of the most egregious violations of the U.S. Constitution."

Charlie Schafer, a pre-junior majoring in mechanical engineering, said he found Takei's discussion of the internment camps one of the most interesting parts of the presentation.

"I am very much into history," Schafer said. "[The camps are] something that's not really well known in America's history."

Schafer was also interested in Takei's discussion on gay rights, because "it's history happening right now."

Andrew Cronk, a freshman majoring in physics, said he was struck by Takei's account of the irony of saying the pledge of allegiance while in an internment camp.

Takei credited his experience in the camp and the abuse he took from others about his Japanese heritage after leaving the camp with helping urge him to learn about the importance of individuals in a democracy.

Takei also talked about his time at "Star Trek" and the show's views on diversity.

Takei said the Starship Enterprise, the spaceship that served as the crew's home in the science fiction series, also served as a metaphor for earth, while the ship's ethnically diverse crew symbolized the importance of earth's many cultures working together.

"Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry named Takei's character on the show after the Sulu Sea, a body of water off the coast of the Philippines, so the name would be more universal than most Asian names, which relate to a specific country.

Michele Rovinsky, assistant vice president of Equality & Diversity at the Office of Equal Opportunity, introduced the program. During the introduction Rovisnsky said Drexel's School of Public Health has launched an academic research center focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health.

The question and answer event was presented by Drexel's Intercultural Engagement & Diversity Initiative, The Foundations of Undergraduate Sexual Equality and the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, in association with the Office of Equality and Diversity, the Office of Faculty Development & Equity, and the School of Public Health's Program for LGBTQ Health.

The program was moderated by Steven Rea, an entertainment columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer and adjunct professor in the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design's Department of Cinema and Television.

Joe Hancock, an assistant professor of design & merchandising, originally recommended to Drexel's Intercultural Engagement & Diversity Initiatives Steering Committee that the school consider bringing Takei to campus.

In addition to his time with "Star Trek," Takei has appeared in numerous other television shows, movies and other media, including roles in, "Heroes" and, "The Howard Stern Show."

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