George Takei has come out

epepke said:
Orwell said:
I always thought Takey had something going with Walter Koenig (that's Pavel Andreievich Chekhov for you non-geeks).
Click to expand...
That would have made for some interesting stories.

"Fisting was a Russian inwention."
Click to expand...
Hah. Given the subject matter of all too many Star Trek fan fiction stories, it's a dead certainty that it's all been done already. Many times. In every possible position.

Rolfe.
 
Ah yes. Even the term for same-sex fanfiction (slash) comes from Star Trek. As in Kirk/Spock fanfic.
 
Mephisto said:
So, George Takei came out of the closet? Big deal! I don't see how this is news. I think it's a shameless publicity gimmick to somehow get himself back into the limelight. He's hasn't done ANYTHING since the Star Trek episodes in the late 60s,

I'm also wondering how this fits into the premise that we shouldn't treat gays any differently than heterosexuals. Why is it important (or newsworthy) why/how/and with whom others have sex with? Would we care if Eddie Munster announced that he's heterosexual? It's almost comical in this case because how many people even know who Takei is any more?

Either way, I always wondered why Sulu smiled everytime Kirk asked him to start the impulse engines.
Click to expand...

Firstly, the man has had a stage career. Just because you aren't aware of what some actor from the sixties has been doing for the last forty years doesn't mean he was hibernating the whole time. The world doesn't stop just because you aren't looking at it.

Secondly, nobody is telling you you have to care.

Thirdly, the reason coming out is important is to demonstrate to our still-rather-homophobic society that homosexuality is out there, it's normal, and normal, decent people can be gay. If everyone stayed in the closet, then homophobia would get worse, because it would be easier to dehumanize gays. It's quite possible that some gay-hating nerds will change their opinions about homosexuality now that their beloved Mr Sulu admits to being one.

Fourthly, why shouldn't he come out? Who are you to tell him that he shouldn't? If you don't care, fine, why the hell are you discussing it online, then? Other people must care, otherwise it wouldn't be news.
 
TragicMonkey said:
Firstly, the man has had a stage career. Just because you aren't aware of what some actor from the sixties has been doing for the last forty years doesn't mean he was hibernating the whole time. The world doesn't stop just because you aren't looking at it.

Secondly, nobody is telling you you have to care.

Thirdly, the reason coming out is important is to demonstrate to our still-rather-homophobic society that homosexuality is out there, it's normal, and normal, decent people can be gay. If everyone stayed in the closet, then homophobia would get worse, because it would be easier to dehumanize gays. It's quite possible that some gay-hating nerds will change their opinions about homosexuality now that their beloved Mr Sulu admits to being one.

Fourthly, why shouldn't he come out? Who are you to tell him that he shouldn't? If you don't care, fine, why the hell are you discussing it online, then? Other people must care, otherwise it wouldn't be news.
Click to expand...

Okay, okay, you got me on that one. I'm sorry for my callous remarks. Personally, I've always like the Star Trek episodes that featured Takei, and I wasn't aware of his stage career. I'll admit to everyone that I was being a bit of a jerk there, and I certainly think that homophobia is a serious problem, but I stand by my assertion that any celebrity "coming out" doesn't always have changing the mind of homophobic fans in mind, and I'm wondering when straight stars with lagging PR coverage are going to start "coming out" just to get in the limelight again.

Gays are second-class citizens in the U.S. and I certainly wish Mr. Takei all the luck in the world, but I think his revelation will only serve to turn those homophobic fans against him rather than have them suddenly understand that gays are people too. It's a shame that, because of religion, some people have to live a hidden life. In a perfect world, "coming out" would be nothing more drastic than admitting you like Lima beans.
 
Mephisto said:
Okay, okay, you got me on that one. I'm sorry for my callous remarks. Personally, I've always like the Star Trek episodes that featured Takei, and I wasn't aware of his stage career. I'll admit to everyone that I was being a bit of a jerk there, and I certainly think that homophobia is a serious problem, but I stand by my assertion that any celebrity "coming out" doesn't always have changing the mind of homophobic fans in mind, and I'm wondering when straight stars with lagging PR coverage are going to start "coming out" just to get in the limelight again.
Click to expand...

Richard Chamberlin came out when he published his autobiography a few years ago. I just read that Tab Hunter came out recently under similar circumstances. As far as I can see both of these guys are, like Takei, decent folks who are removing a weight from their backs and just want to move on with their lives. I, personally, don't care but if it makes them feel better more power to them.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/10/27/DI2005102701502.html

One self serving note: It is gratifying to see that these attractive men are gay. It makes women pay more attention to plain looking folks, not that I am plain looking or anything.
 
Of course, Takei's gayness has been an open secret in Hollywood for years. The fact that he has been living for years with his "domestic partner" was a big clue. But understandably, Hollywood folks don't open other people's closets since their own are often filled with skeletons.
 
Mr. Takei was also a California state congressman for some time, was he not? I wonder if his opponent(s) ever tried to raise some suspicions during campaigns, or while he was in office.
 
Where no man has gone before? Hello?

TragicMonkey said:
Firstly, the man has had a stage career. Just because you aren't aware of what some actor from the sixties has been doing for the last forty years doesn't mean he was hibernating the whole time. The world doesn't stop just because you aren't looking at it.

Secondly, nobody is telling you you have to care.

Thirdly, the reason coming out is important is to demonstrate to our still-rather-homophobic society that homosexuality is out there, it's normal, and normal, decent people can be gay. If everyone stayed in the closet, then homophobia would get worse, because it would be easier to dehumanize gays. It's quite possible that some gay-hating nerds will change their opinions about homosexuality now that their beloved Mr Sulu admits to being one.

Fourthly, why shouldn't he come out? Who are you to tell him that he shouldn't? If you don't care, fine, why the hell are you discussing it online, then? Other people must care, otherwise it wouldn't be news.
Click to expand...

I think Takei may have written a book or something, too.

I also think a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY was missed when the name of this thread was chosen. Takei goes where no man has gone before!
 
I think Tab Hunter was the same scenario of "open secret". I mean, he didn't talk about it, but didn't everyone already know by 1980? He was in "Polyester" and all. And he was great in it. I'll never forget the romantic scene where he first talks to Divine, and the ambulance driver throws the decapitated head into the bushes.

FWIW, it really is something of a psychological relief to come out. Keeping quiet is sort of like lying, and secrets get burdensome. Takei is old. He probably got tired of it.
 
Mephisto said:
In a perfect world, "coming out" would be nothing more drastic than admitting you like Lima beans.
Click to expand...
Well, I certainly don't have anything against homosexuals (would be kind of self-destructive if I did). But anyone who likes lima beans is definitely a sub-human freak I do not want to have anything to do with.

Back on topic, it's sometimes hard to tell when someone is "coming out" (especially when it's one of those "well, duh" moments) simply to end the "lie of omission", and possibly provide a positive gay image/role model; and when it's a move to recover a failing career -- eg. Rob Halford, Joan Jett.
 
Mephisto said:
So, George Takei came out of the closet? Big deal! I don't see how this is news. I think it's a shameless publicity gimmick to somehow get himself back into the limelight.
Click to expand...

You know, given the actions of some of the other Star Trek cast lately, I can't help but wonder if there isn't an interesting phenomenon at work here.

Deforest Kelley died a few years ago, and James Doohan recently. These actors have worked together for decades, and their careers were largely defined by their Star Trek roles. Since even the youngest of them is approaching 70, I think we might be seeing a certain realization of their mortality. Shatner's Has Been album last year obviously contained a lot of stuff that he wanted to get off his chest before he died. Maybe Takei, too, is beginning to feel his time counting down, and wants to make sure he does the things that are important to him personally while he still has time.

Jeremy
 
toddjh said:
You know, given the actions of some of the other Star Trek cast lately, I can't help but wonder if there isn't an interesting phenomenon at work here.

Deforest Kelley died a few years ago, and James Doohan recently. These actors have worked together for decades, and their careers were largely defined by their Star Trek roles. Since even the youngest of them is approaching 70, I think we might be seeing a certain realization of their mortality. Shatner's Has Been album last year obviously contained a lot of stuff that he wanted to get off his chest before he died. Maybe Takei, too, is beginning to feel his time counting down, and wants to make sure he does the things that are important to him personally while he still has time.
Click to expand...

He's not that old! And he's in great shape. According to his blog, he runs marathons still.
 
Will he now buy pins and bumper-stickers that say "EXPLOIT ME" (ie., those rainbows and pink triangles).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom