George Takei is a class act. I'm not a very formal person, I tend to call people by their first names even in business situations. Yet the moment I got on the phone with Mr. Takei, I felt I needed to ask if it was OK to call him George.
Takei is, of course, an icon, due to his long association with the legendary Star Trek franchise. He also has had a distinguished career in the theatre. There's his human rights work. Then there's that elegant, unmistakable voice. It all made me feel like I was in the presence of royalty.
"George will be fine," he said with a laugh. So I spent an unforgettable hour on the phone talking to George Takei, a true gentleman who sets a fine example for us all.
David Nahmod: What made you decide to come out as a gay man in a long-term relationship at this point in your life?
George Takei: Brad and I have been out for years. We've never hidden who we are. We've socialized with [Star Trek co-stars] Michelle Nichols and Walter Koenig and their spouses, we've been to each other's homes. What changed is my deciding to talk to the press.
It was the gay marriage issue that brought me to this choice. I thought our nation would be bookended by Massachusetts and California with gay marriage rights. Gov. Arnold made moderate sounds when he ran for office. I thought he would sign Mr. Leno's bill, but he played to the narrowest Republican base. I felt I had to speak.
How did your fan-base react?
My computer exploded with e-mails from all over the world, mainly positive. A few Bible-thumpers said they would not watch Star Trek again. You cannot change them.
I did the Howard Stern show, and spoke out in favor of gay marriage. Gov. Arnold called in, and on the air, said he'd sign the bill. But this was Howard Stern, and the Governor turned out to be a very good impersonator! So I did Stern again, the Governor called again, and it was the same impersonator!
Were you offended by this?
No, I was on the air, getting the word about this issue out there! The joke Stern played got me on the show a second time to further spread the issue.
There's a fringe radical gay left that's against gay marriage. What do you say to them?
They are no better than the radical right. They need to leave people alone to decide such things for themselves!
As a Japanese American, you are also involved in promoting Asian culture, and in educating the public about the WWII Japanese American internment camps, where you spent time as a child.
Yes, these were Japanese American internment camps. I was born in Los Angeles. We were American citizens taken away at gunpoint by soldiers, with only 15 minutes' warning to gather our belongings. We lost our homes, our things, everything. Simply because we were of Japanese descent!
We were put behind barbed-wire fences, had guards in the latrine, and had to say the Pledge of Allegiance every day. We were American citizens, prisoners of the US government!
I've heard about this, yet I find it shocking that this could happen in the USA.
It's still happening now, to the Arab community.
When you were released, did you get an apology of any kind?
Just a few dollars per person, and a one-way bus ticket. We finally got financial redress in the 1970s, which Pres. Reagan did not want to give us. He felt his apology was enough.
I also want to point out that Japanese Americans volunteered for the US Army in WWII. The 442 Regimental Combat team was a Japanese American regiment that was the single most decorated unit. Some Japanese Americans refused to serve, and they are heroes, too.
You were involved in stopping the Fox Movie Channel from showing old Charlie Chan films.
Yes, to show a Caucasian actor playing a demeaning Asian stereotype is not what we want to see.
Wouldn't it be better to let the films be shown? I just reviewed a Batman serial from 1943 that was filled with racist, anti-Asian dialogue. But hearing those words spoken aloud underscores why we shouldn't use such language.
In an educational setting, yes, that can work. But to show such images with the accompanying dialogue in an entertainment context only serves to legitimize the racist language.
And you're involved in the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.
Yes, the museum promotes our culture and pays tribute to our contributions. It also serves as a memorial to the internment camps. The museum's exhibits have traveled around the world.
George, I've been wanting to ask you for years, where did you get your unique, beautiful speaking voice?
I guess we can blame my parents for the voice, plus my training as an actor.
Is your acting career still thriving?
Yes, I just did Equus in Los Angeles, a great but difficult play. I was onstage constantly. I also just guest-starred on Freddie Prinz, Jr.'s new show, which was a pleasure. I had worked with his father many years ago.
I'll also be attending conventions to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Star Trek later this year. Paramount has OK'd production of Star Trek: New Voyages, which is a new version of the series, produced by fans for the Internet. I'll be playing Capt. Sulu on an episode this Fall. Information will appear on my website, www.georgetakei.com.