UPDATE 04.19.06: A recent radio interview with George Takei on The Stephanie Miller Show, a nationally syndicated morning talk show, can be heard
at this link (as of Wednesday). In the seven-minute clip, Takei reiterates and expands on several of the points he made in his video interview here on STARTREK.COM. Commenting on some of the negative reaction to his coming out last year, Takei says, "I respect people of religion, of faith. But, you know, the United States is made up of many, many faiths ... and we need to respect each other. Our strength is in our diversity coming together. But when they try to impose their beliefs on others via the law, and scold others because we don't subscribe to their beliefs, then that's wrong. That's un-American."
In response, host Stephanie Miller evokes the Star Trek tenet "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations," and remarks, "All I think when I hear that phrase is, I want to party with you people!"
George Takei continues to make news. According to the Associated Press, the famed Original Series actor made a surprise visit yesterday (Monday) at a rally of gay activists in Minneapolis, Minn., to lend his support.
This month Takei has been on a six-city speaking tour with the Human Rights Campaign (related story). Monday he was at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities as part of "Spring Pride Week." Meanwhile, though, in downtown Minneapolis at North Central University, a busload of activists calling themselves "Soulforce Equality Riders" were protesting discrimination at the private religious college.
The activists and their supporters were rallying in a park across the street from the campus when Takei stopped by. The actor told the group their "equality trek" across the nation (they plan to rally at 19 U.S. colleges) shares themes with those of the Starship Enterprise, according to the AP report.
"They have shown courage and character in showing that most people of faith are not extreme reactionaries who oppose equal rights," Takei said. Click here for the full story.
Takei continues his tour tonight (Tuesday) in Madison, Wisc., and then next week he goes to Denver, Colo., on April 25, and to Phoenix, Ariz., on April 27. Visit www.hrc.org for more details.
In a video interview with STARTREK.COM earlier this month, Takei said that he came out as a gay man last year in order to credibly speak on issues of equality and tolerance and have a political impact.
In the midst of this nationwide speaking tour, Takei also stopped in Los Alamos, N.M., last Saturday to kick off "Star Trek Extravaganza," a week-long series of events held by the Los Alamos Community Winds (related story). He spoke to an audience of more than 60 people about Star Trek, stereotypes, and learning from history.
"There is a sobering history here in Los Alamos, where the Manhattan Project was carried out," Takei said. He went on to describe how he was personally affected by the atomic age. While his and other Japanese-American families were interned during World War II, "We were in the camp and there were rumors circulating that Hiroshima had been bombed," he said. "My aunt and her baby perished in the bombing."
A full report on Takei's Los Alamos visit can be found at this link.
