George Takei

[[File:George_Takei.jpg|thumb|165px|right|upright|Ohhh my.]]{{sex}}{{cquote|We will make this a better world, a more equal society for all people. Especially young straight couples — because they are going to be making the gay babies of tomorrow.|||Takei being Takei<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jepbmLR6SsA George Takei receives Vito Russo Award]</ref>}}
'''George Hosato Takei''' {{lived|1937}} is known for playing Mr. Sulu alongside William Shatner<ref group=note>Well, just in front and to the left a bit.</ref> in ''[[Star Trek]]'', but he now is a prominent [[human rights]] activist. Notably, he is at the forefront of the [[LGBT rights]] movement in the [[United States]] as head of the [[Human Rights Campaign]]'s "Coming Out" campaign.

==Personal life==
{{cquote|It's not really coming out which suggests opening a door and stepping through. It's more like a long long walk through what began as a narrow corridor that starts to widen.}}

Takei publicly came out as [[gay]] in 2005, although his homosexuality had long been known or suspected by his ''Star Trek'' co-stars and fanbase.  At the time of coming out, he had been in a relationship with his partner, Brad Altman, for 18 years.  He [[gay marriage|legally married]] Altman in November 2008 during the brief period that same-sex marriage was legal in [[California]]. Thankfully, his marriage has not been affected by [[Proposition 8]]:  The California Supreme Court denied the state the right to take away those few thousand people's legal status as "married" despite strong opposition from [[Republican]]s and the bevy of legal problems created with two separate statuses for gay couples. 

Takei is a [[Buddhist]], and is fluent in [[Japan]]ese, [[English]], and [[Spanish]]. 

As a young boy, Takei was among the thousands of citizens rounded up into [[Japanese American internment|Japanese American internment camps]] during [[World War II]], experiencing 6 years of imprisonment in two camps. He recently worked on the musical ''Allegiance'' (later made into a film), a story of a family dealing with their imprisonment.  He is also a founder of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.

==Some not so savory things about George Takei==
In November 2017, a report came out from The Hollywood Post, where former model Scott Brunton accused Takei of sexually assaulting him.<ref name="George Takei accused of sexually assaulting former model">[http://http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/george-takei-accused-sexually-assaulting-model-1981-1056698 George Takei accused of sexually assaulting former model]</ref> There later resurfaced an interview from October 2017 with Howard Stern, where after being asked, if he "grabbed anybody by the cock against their will," he mentioned "people that are kind of skittish, or maybe, um, uh, afraid, and you’re trying to persuade".<ref name="George Takei says he played the part of a naughty gay grandpa">[http://www.avclub.com/george-takei-says-he-played-the-part-of-a-naughty-gay-1820450681 George Takei offers ambiguous answer when asked if he ever assaulted anyone]</ref>  He has apologized for this comment, but still denies the accusations. In fact, Brunton retracted the accusation and apologized to Takei, as well as admitting to making up part of the story in an interview with The Observer.<ref name="George Takei's accuser has changed his story of drugging and assault">[https://observer.com/2018/05/george-takei-accuser-scott-brunton-changed-his-story-of-drugs-assault Exclusive: George Takei’s Accuser Has Changed His Story of Drugging and Assault]</ref> Takei then posted a tweet shortly after saying "As many of you know, this has been a very difficult period for myself and my husband Brad as we have dealt with the impact of these accusations, but we are happy to see that this nightmare is finally drawing to a close"<ref name="George Takei forgives accuser after sex assault claim is retracted">[https://nextshark.com/george-takei-brunton-sex-assault-claim-retracted George Takei Forgives Accuser After Sex Assault Claim is Retracted]</ref>.

=="Educating" a politician==
In November 2015, Roanoke, [[Virginia]] mayor David Bowers issued a public statement asking those in his region to put assistance to [[Syria]]n refugees on indefinite hold in the wake of several rapid acts of [[Islamic State]] [[Terrorism|terror]]. One paragraph appeared to cite [[FDR]]'s sequestration of [[Japanese]] nationals and Japanese-Americans during [[World War II]] as a precedent for this.<ref>[http://www.roanoke.com/news/david-bowers-statement-on-syrian-refugees/pdf_54895fc2-dcfa-50a9-9e40-4c382ed7ab4e.html Bowers' statement] Roanoke Times, November 18, 2015</ref> Though he did not speak out explicitly for the internment of Syrian refugees, his decision to cite what is now widely considered a human rights violation in support of ''any'' policy may in retrospect appear misguided. Takei visited Roanoke the following May in order to speak about the incident and meet with the Mayor, telling reporters: "[I]t was reflecting the kind of mentality then right after [[Pearl Harbor]], that got us imprisoned. And I must say my blood was boiling a little bit. So I thought I would educate him." He later remarked to the mayor, presumably after doing so: "I hope our discussion has enlightened you about a chapter of American history", to which Bowers replied, "Indeed."<ref>[http://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Actor-George-Takei-arrives-in-Roanoke-hopes-to-educate-on-a-378128361.html Actor George Takei arrives in Roanoke, meets with Mayor Bowers] WDBJ7, May 4, 2016</ref>

It is redeeming of Bowers that he either did, indeed, feel he learned something through the encounter, or at least had the good graces to apologize and pretend.

==Internet activity==
Takei's [[Facebook]], Mastodon and [[Twitter|Twixter]] pages are considered by some to have cemented his status as the official cool uncle of the [[internet]]. If he does not employ a media team, or is otherwise responsible for the content of his social media accounts, however, a rather [http://archive.is/FzUDW blatant attempt to direct the wrath of the Interwebz towards an individual] reflects quite poorly on his otherwise admirable public character. Regardless, Takei's statements have a way of becoming online catchphrases. 

==="I will have sex with you"===
In 2007 retired NBA player Tim Hardaway announced that he was [[homophobic]] on a Miami radio show.  In response, Takei appeared on ''Jimmy Kimmel Live'' with a mock PSA known for the quote: "Let it be known.  One day, when you least expect it… I will have [[sex]] with you."<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s1iQODC5OI "Your smooth, chocolatey head, glazed in man sweat…"]</ref>  Hardaway has since made a complete turnaround.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/04/tim-hardaway-gay-marriage-petition_n_3544558.html Tim Hardaway Becomes First To Sign Florida Gay Marriage Petition], ''[[The Huffington Post]]''</ref>

==="You are a douchebag"===
In 2010, he lambasted a [[wingnut]] [[Arkansas]] school board member (who encouraged homosexuals to commit [[suicide]]) with: "''You are a douchebag''…No person, let alone an elected school official, whatever their personal or [[religious]] beliefs, should ever wish [[death]] upon another human being."<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UACK93xF-FE That's right, a total douchebag.] ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOzXHOhn-EA "19" remix.])</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_QDGdbg-QQ Shortened version]</ref>

==="It's OK to be Takei"===
When [[Tennessee]] decided in 2011 to pass a law that would ban teachers from using the word "gay" to talk about issues like gay rights or gay marriage, Takei jumped into the fray with a [[YouTube]] video, offering his name to the cause, and starting the phrase "It's okay to be Takei."<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRkIWB3HIEs You're so Takei]</ref><ref group=note>The fact that his own name is part of this catchphrase may suggest just a ''teeny'' bit of self-promotion, but then again, does he need more promotion at this point?</ref>

==="Oh my"===
Takei's signature, this expression is used most often as a reaction to something overtly sexual.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4DK1Yx4R6k The original?]</ref>

Other quotes from Takei (e.g. in [[video game]]s<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egUDYu_qmL0 You are made of stupid]</ref>) have also entered the [[meme]] lexicon.

==Takei vs. ''Twilight''==
Takei became even more popular to [[geek|geeks]] and nerds the world around when he attempted to broker peace between some ''Star Trek'' and ''[[Fun:Star Wars|Star Wars]]'' groupies — after Carrie Fisher and William Shatner exchanged a couple of blows in interviews — by bringing them together against a common foe: ''[[Twilight]]''.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvTCr5Z-0lA Trekkies and Wookies unite!]</ref> Even when all jokes are set aside, Takei has stated several times that he finds the ''Twilight'' series horrendous, specifically because it tells teen girls that [[misogyny|it's good to be nothing but a hollow shell waiting around for a sparkly boyfriend]]. Like many others, he's also taken [[Stephenie Meyer]] (and one might argue, her fans for liking it) to task many times, just because she writes so poorly.

==External links==
*[http://www.facebook.com/georgehtakei His Facebook page.]
*[https://universeodon.com/@georgetakei His Mastodon page.]
*[https://twitter.com/georgetakei His Twixter page.]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WahBH9sANg Fifty Shades of Takei] on [[YouTube]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Takei, George}}
[[Category:Actors]]
[[Category:Buddhists]]
[[Category:California]]
[[Category:Left-wing activists]]
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[[Category:LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Categories: Actors, Buddhists, California, Left-wing activists, LGBTQ rights activists, LGBTQ people, Living people