John Cho’s Sulu is officially Star Trek’s first openly gay character - Vox

Contents:

• HAS STAR TREK'S SULU ALWAYS BEEN GAY? IT'S COMPLITED
• SULU IS GAY IN 'STAR TREK BEYOND,' MAKG FRANCHISE HISTORY
• GEE {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}JAPANE AMERIN ACTOR GEE TAKEI PLAYED LITENANT SULU THE ORIGAL 'STAR TREK' TELEVISN SERI AND MOVI AND IS A POPULAR SOCIAL-MEDIA {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: APR 30, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: KEV WTER/GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1937-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS GEE TAKEI?GEE TAKEI OVERME THE RACIAL BARRIERS OF HIS TIME TO LNCH A SUCCSFUL ACTG REER. HE STARRED AS LITENANT HIKA SULU DURG THE THREE-YEAR TELEVISN N OF STAR TREK, AND LATER REPRISED THE ROLE FOR SIX MOVI. PROMENTLY VOLVED WH GAY RIGHTS AND JAPANE AMERIN GROUPS, TAKEI HAS BEE A HIGHLY POPULAR SOCIAL-MEDIA PRENCE.EARLY YEARSGEE HOSATO TAKEI WAS BORN ON APRIL 20, 1937, LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA. AT THE AGE OF 5, HE AND HIS FAY WERE UPROOTED OM THEIR HOME AND FORCED TO LIVE AT JAPANE TERNMENT MPS ARKANSAS AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THEY RETURNED TO LOS ANGEL AFTER WORLD WAR II, AND TAKEI ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY TO STUDY ARCHECTURE.STAGE AND SCREENWHILE LLEGE, TAKEI RPOND TO A NEWSPAPER AD LOOKG FOR ASIAN VOICEOVER ACTORS FOR THE ENGLISH VERSN OF THE JAPANE MONSTER MOVIE RODAN (1956). THAT LED TO MORE VOICEOVER WORK, AS WELL AS SMALL PARTS TELEVISN PROGRAMS SUCH AS PERRY MASON AND THE FILM ICE PALACE (1960). DECIDG TO FOC ON ACTG FULL TIME, TAKEI TRANSFERRED TO THE UNIVERSY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGEL, WHERE HE EARNED BOTH A BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S GREE THEATER. IN 1966, TAKEI BEME ONE OF THE FEW ASIAN AMERINS TO BE FEATURED PROMENTLY ON TV WHEN HE STARRED AS LITENANT HIKA SULU ON THE SCIENCE-FICTN SERI STAR TREK. HE RETURNED AFTER TAKG TIME OFF DURG THE SEND SEASON TO FILM THE GREEN BERETS (1968), BUT HIS ROLE AS SULU WAS TEMPORARILY SHELVED WHEN STAR TREK WAS NCELED 1969. TAKEI NTUED TO MAKE REGULAR TV APPEARANC THE 1970S, ON SUCH PROGRAMS AS THE SIX MILLN DOLLAR MAN AND HAWAII FIVE-O, WHILE PROVIDG THE VOICE OF SULU FOR THE STAR TREK ANIMATED SERI. MOMENTUM GATHERED FOR THE MAKG OF THE MOVIE, AND TAKEI RNED WH THE RT OF HIS OLD STMAT FOR STAR TREK: THE MOTN PICTURE (1979) AND FIVE SEQUELS OVER THE NEXT DOZEN YEARS. THE 1990S BROUGHT A STEADY STREAM OF VOICEOVER GIGS, WH TAKEI'S SIGNATURE BARONE SURFACG THE DISNEY ANIMATED FEATURE MULAN (1998) AND EPISOS OF THE SIMPSONS. THE VETERAN ACTOR ALSO BEME A SEMI-REGULAR GUT ON THE {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}HOWARD STERN SHOW, AND 2006, HE WAS NAMED STERN'S OFFICIAL ANNOUNCER FOLLOWG THE SHOCK-JOCK'S MOVE TO SIRI XM RAD. TAKEI WAS VOLVED A PROJECT CLOSE TO HIS HEART WHEN HE TOOK ON A STARRG ROLE ALLEGIANCE, A PRODUCTN ABOUT THE WORLD WAR II TERNMENT OF JAPANE AMERINS. THE PLAY PREMIERED AT SAN DIEGO'S OLD GLOBE THEATER SEPTEMBER 2012.PUBLIC SERVICE AND PRIVATE REVELATNSTAKEI HAS REMAED A BY MAN AWAY OM SHOW BS. AFTER NARROWLY LOSG HIS BID FOR A SEAT ON THE LOS ANGEL CY COUNCIL 1973, HE JOED THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRANS DISTRICT OM 1973 TO 1984. TAKEI SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THE JAPAN-UNED STAT FRIENDSHIP COMMISSN FOR PRINT BILL CLTON AND WAS NFERRED WH THE ORR OF THE RISG SUN, GOLD RAYS WH ROSETTE BY HIS MAJTY THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN 2004. HE IS ALSO CHAIRMAN EMER OF THE JAPANE AMERIN NATNAL MM'S BOARD OF TSTE AND SERV AS CHAIR OF THE UNCIL OF ERNORS OF EAST WT PLAYERS, A RENOWNED ASIAN-AMERIN THEATER ANIZATN. IN 2005, TAKEI PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED HIS HOMOSEXUALY TO FRONTIERS MAGAZE. HE MARRIED HIS LONGTIME PARTNER, BRAD ALTMAN, SEPTEMBER 2008. IN RECENT YEARS, TAKEI HAS EARNED A FOLLOWG OM A NEW GENERATN OF FANS WH HIS FUNNY, CISIVE POSTS ON FACEBOOK. HIS EXPANSIVE SOCIAL-MEDIA PRENCE, ALONG WH THE 2013 RELEASE OF STAR TREK INTO DARKNS, HAS HELPED KEEP THIS ACPLISHED ACTOR AND ACTIVIST THE PUBLIC {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
• GEE TAKEI REACTS TO GAY SULU NEWS: “I THK IT’S REALLY UNFORTUNATE”
• ‘STAR TREK BEYOND’ NFIRMS THAT HIKA SULU IS GAY
• SULU IS AN OUT AND PROUD GAY MAN STAR TREK BEYOND, ACRDG TO JOHN CHOMUCH LIKE GEE TAKEI, THE ACTOR WHO PLAYED THE ORIGAL SULU THE FIRST STAR TREK TV SERI.BY HILLARY BISJULY 7, 2016LEFT, OM CBS PHOTO ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAG; RIGHT, URTY OF PARAMOUNT PICTUR.SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVELOOKS LIKE STAR TREK BEYOND WILL BOLDLY GO WHERE NO STAR TREK FILM HAS GONE BEFORE: MELBOURNE’S HERALD SUN REPORTS THAT THE UPG MOVIE WILL PICT U.S.S. ENTERPRISE HELMSMAN HIKA SULU AS A GAY MAN RAISG A DGHTER WH HIS PARTNER. (VANY FAIR HAS REACHED OUT TO PARAMOUNT FOR NFIRMATN AND MENT, AND WILL UPDATE THIS POST ACRDGLY WHEN WE HEAR BACK.)SUCH A MOVE WOULD MARK A TONE FOR THE STAR TREK ANCHISE, WHICH, THOUGH FAMOLY TRAILBLAZG TERMS OF DIVERSY AND PROGRSIVE STORYL, HAS NEVER BEFORE FEATURED AN OPENLY GAY CREW MEMBER. JT DON’T EXPECT A DRAMATIC G-OUT MOMENT FOR SULU: “I LIKED THE APPROACH, WHICH WAS NOT TO MAKE A BIG THG OUT ,” ACTOR JOHN CHO, WHO PLAYS SULU THE NEW FILMS, TOLD THE HERALD SUN. “WHICH IS WHERE I HOPE WE ARE GOG AS A SPECI, TO NOT POLICIZE ONE’S PERSONAL ORIENTATNS.”CHO ALSO DITED THAT STAR TREK BEYOND SCREENWRER (AND -STAR) SIMON PEGG AND DIRECTOR JT L CID TO MAKE SULU OPENLY GAY AS AN HOMAGE TO GEE TAKEI, THE ACTOR WHO PLAYED SULU ON THE ORIGAL STAR TREK SERI. (SULU WAS NEVER GIVEN A ROMANTIC PARTNER OF EHER SEX PREV STAR TREK RNATNS, THOUGH HE DID HAVE A DGHTER.) THOUGH CLOSETED DURG THE SHOW’S N THE 1960S, TAKEI ME OUT PUBLICLY 2005, WHEN HE REVEALED THAT HE HAD BEEN WH HIS PARTNER, BRAD ALTMAN, FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS. THE PAIR MARRIED 2008.THE EXCG WORD ABOUT SULU’S ORIENTATN—AS WELL AS S LOW-KEY REVEAL—IS A NICE B OF POSIVE NEWS G OUT OF A PRS TOUR MARRED BY TRAGEDY: CHO, HIS ST, AND THE RT OF THE STAR TREK TEAM IS STILL GRAPPLG WH THE TRAGIC ATH OF THEIR RA ANTON YELCH, WHO DIED SUDNLY JUNE AT THE AGE OF 27. “IT’S VASTATG LOSG SOMEONE YOUR FAY,” CHO’S -STAR KARL URBAN TOLD THE HERALD SUN. “I’M HAVG A DIFFICULT TIME G TO GRIPS WH TALKG ABOUT HIM THE PAST TENSE—’S VERY RAW AND VERY PAFUL.”STAR TREK BEYOND OPENS JULY 22.MOST POPULARAND JT LIKE THAT: MICHAEL PATRICK KG KNOWS WHEN THE AUDIENCE TURNED ON CHE DIAZBY CHRIS MURPHYSARA RAMIREZ ISSU STHG RPONSE TO ANTI–CHE DIAZ PROFILEBY SAVANNAH WALSHTHE 25 BT SHOWS ON NETFLIX TO WATCH RIGHT NOWBY TARA ARIANOHILLARY BIS
• JOHN CHO’S SULU IS OFFICIALLY STAR TREK’S FIRST OPENLY GAY CHARACTER
• GEE TAKEI LLS 'STAR TREK BEYOND' GAY SULU SCENE 'A WHISPER'
• 'STAR TREK BEYOND'S SULU IS THE FRANCHISE'S FIRST GAY CHARACTER

HAS STAR TREK'S SULU ALWAYS BEEN GAY? IT'S COMPLITED

On Thursday, the Herald Sun announced that the character Hika Sulu will be revealed to be gay Star Trek Beyond, which hs theaters July 22.

SULU IS GAY IN 'STAR TREK BEYOND,' MAKG FRANCHISE HISTORY

Gee Takei, who played Sulu the origal show and who has been a proment LGBT activist sce g out as gay jt over a ago, told the Hollywood Reporter that he has been agast revealg the character as gay sce he first heard was unr nsiratn last year.

“I’m lighted that there’s a gay character, ” Takei told THR. He believed ma more sense to create a new character who has always been gay, rather than brgg Sulu out of a prumed closet. ” But he also exprsed a ncern, which he discsed wh L and -wrer Doug Jung, that a new gay character may have been perceived by the dience as a token gay character, “primarily fed by their sexualy.

” Pegg believ Rodnberry’s cisn not to velop a gay character earlier was a product of his time, not of his visn. ” Based on the movie’s timele, the cisn to make Sulu gay do not necsate his havg been the closet, Pegg explas, and prum that there has been an LGBT prence sce the begng of the anchise’s universe. Hika Sulu is now known as the first openly gay character  Star Trek, but the character's sexualy hasn't always been so clear-cut.

GEE {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}JAPANE AMERIN ACTOR GEE TAKEI PLAYED LITENANT SULU THE ORIGAL 'STAR TREK' TELEVISN SERI AND MOVI AND IS A POPULAR SOCIAL-MEDIA {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: APR 30, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: KEV WTER/GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1937-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS GEE TAKEI?GEE TAKEI OVERME THE RACIAL BARRIERS OF HIS TIME TO LNCH A SUCCSFUL ACTG REER. HE STARRED AS LITENANT HIKA SULU DURG THE THREE-YEAR TELEVISN N OF STAR TREK, AND LATER REPRISED THE ROLE FOR SIX MOVI. PROMENTLY VOLVED WH GAY RIGHTS AND JAPANE AMERIN GROUPS, TAKEI HAS BEE A HIGHLY POPULAR SOCIAL-MEDIA PRENCE.EARLY YEARSGEE HOSATO TAKEI WAS BORN ON APRIL 20, 1937, LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA. AT THE AGE OF 5, HE AND HIS FAY WERE UPROOTED OM THEIR HOME AND FORCED TO LIVE AT JAPANE TERNMENT MPS ARKANSAS AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THEY RETURNED TO LOS ANGEL AFTER WORLD WAR II, AND TAKEI ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY TO STUDY ARCHECTURE.STAGE AND SCREENWHILE LLEGE, TAKEI RPOND TO A NEWSPAPER AD LOOKG FOR ASIAN VOICEOVER ACTORS FOR THE ENGLISH VERSN OF THE JAPANE MONSTER MOVIE RODAN (1956). THAT LED TO MORE VOICEOVER WORK, AS WELL AS SMALL PARTS TELEVISN PROGRAMS SUCH AS PERRY MASON AND THE FILM ICE PALACE (1960). DECIDG TO FOC ON ACTG FULL TIME, TAKEI TRANSFERRED TO THE UNIVERSY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGEL, WHERE HE EARNED BOTH A BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S GREE THEATER. IN 1966, TAKEI BEME ONE OF THE FEW ASIAN AMERINS TO BE FEATURED PROMENTLY ON TV WHEN HE STARRED AS LITENANT HIKA SULU ON THE SCIENCE-FICTN SERI STAR TREK. HE RETURNED AFTER TAKG TIME OFF DURG THE SEND SEASON TO FILM THE GREEN BERETS (1968), BUT HIS ROLE AS SULU WAS TEMPORARILY SHELVED WHEN STAR TREK WAS NCELED 1969. TAKEI NTUED TO MAKE REGULAR TV APPEARANC THE 1970S, ON SUCH PROGRAMS AS THE SIX MILLN DOLLAR MAN AND HAWAII FIVE-O, WHILE PROVIDG THE VOICE OF SULU FOR THE STAR TREK ANIMATED SERI. MOMENTUM GATHERED FOR THE MAKG OF THE MOVIE, AND TAKEI RNED WH THE RT OF HIS OLD STMAT FOR STAR TREK: THE MOTN PICTURE (1979) AND FIVE SEQUELS OVER THE NEXT DOZEN YEARS. THE 1990S BROUGHT A STEADY STREAM OF VOICEOVER GIGS, WH TAKEI'S SIGNATURE BARONE SURFACG THE DISNEY ANIMATED FEATURE MULAN (1998) AND EPISOS OF THE SIMPSONS. THE VETERAN ACTOR ALSO BEME A SEMI-REGULAR GUT ON THE {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}HOWARD STERN SHOW, AND 2006, HE WAS NAMED STERN'S OFFICIAL ANNOUNCER FOLLOWG THE SHOCK-JOCK'S MOVE TO SIRI XM RAD. TAKEI WAS VOLVED A PROJECT CLOSE TO HIS HEART WHEN HE TOOK ON A STARRG ROLE ALLEGIANCE, A PRODUCTN ABOUT THE WORLD WAR II TERNMENT OF JAPANE AMERINS. THE PLAY PREMIERED AT SAN DIEGO'S OLD GLOBE THEATER SEPTEMBER 2012.PUBLIC SERVICE AND PRIVATE REVELATNSTAKEI HAS REMAED A BY MAN AWAY OM SHOW BS. AFTER NARROWLY LOSG HIS BID FOR A SEAT ON THE LOS ANGEL CY COUNCIL 1973, HE JOED THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRANS DISTRICT OM 1973 TO 1984. TAKEI SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THE JAPAN-UNED STAT FRIENDSHIP COMMISSN FOR PRINT BILL CLTON AND WAS NFERRED WH THE ORR OF THE RISG SUN, GOLD RAYS WH ROSETTE BY HIS MAJTY THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN 2004. HE IS ALSO CHAIRMAN EMER OF THE JAPANE AMERIN NATNAL MM'S BOARD OF TSTE AND SERV AS CHAIR OF THE UNCIL OF ERNORS OF EAST WT PLAYERS, A RENOWNED ASIAN-AMERIN THEATER ANIZATN. IN 2005, TAKEI PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED HIS HOMOSEXUALY TO FRONTIERS MAGAZE. HE MARRIED HIS LONGTIME PARTNER, BRAD ALTMAN, SEPTEMBER 2008. IN RECENT YEARS, TAKEI HAS EARNED A FOLLOWG OM A NEW GENERATN OF FANS WH HIS FUNNY, CISIVE POSTS ON FACEBOOK. HIS EXPANSIVE SOCIAL-MEDIA PRENCE, ALONG WH THE 2013 RELEASE OF STAR TREK INTO DARKNS, HAS HELPED KEEP THIS ACPLISHED ACTOR AND ACTIVIST THE PUBLIC {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

In 2005, 36 years after Star Trek: The Origal Seri end, Sulu's origal actor, Gee Takei, publicly me out as gay.

Wantg to honor this legacy, Simon Pegg me up wh the ia of havg Sulu be gay  J. John Cho supported the ia, as did Zachary Quto, the actor who played Spock and who publicly me out as gay 2011.

Why Takei Was Upset That Sulu Beme Gay. Takei publicly disagreed wh wrer and Stty actor, Simon Pegg about the plan to make Sulu gay. While he wholeheartedly supported the cln of LGBTQ+ characters  Star Trek, he thought a new character should be created stead of makg Sulu nonilly gay.

GEE TAKEI REACTS TO GAY SULU NEWS: “I THK IT’S REALLY UNFORTUNATE”

Pegg was also wary of Takei's advice to create a new character simply to fulfill the purpose of havg a gay character, as he thought that would lim the character to tokenism. Was Sulu Gay In The Wir Star Trek Canon? The fact that his dghter existed many of the novels and gam don't preclu the possibily that Sulu might be gay.

‘STAR TREK BEYOND’ NFIRMS THAT HIKA SULU IS GAY

Abrams' Star Trek exist on different timel, 's possible to say that both a straight Sulu and a gay Sulu exist as part of the multiverse's non. One of the “Star Trek” universe’s most beloved characters is revealed to be gay the latt stallment of the inic anchise. “I liked the approach, which was not to make a big thg out , which is where I hope we are gog as a speci, to not policize one’s personal orientatns, ” he and Pegg’s cisn to pict Sulu as a gay man was a nod to Gee Takei, who played the role the origal 1960s “Star Trek” televisn seri and six subsequent films, Cho said.

SULU IS AN OUT AND PROUD GAY MAN STAR TREK BEYOND, ACRDG TO JOHN CHOMUCH LIKE GEE TAKEI, THE ACTOR WHO PLAYED THE ORIGAL SULU THE FIRST STAR TREK TV SERI.BY HILLARY BISJULY 7, 2016LEFT, OM CBS PHOTO ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAG; RIGHT, URTY OF PARAMOUNT PICTUR.SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVELOOKS LIKE STAR TREK BEYOND WILL BOLDLY GO WHERE NO STAR TREK FILM HAS GONE BEFORE: MELBOURNE’S HERALD SUN REPORTS THAT THE UPG MOVIE WILL PICT U.S.S. ENTERPRISE HELMSMAN HIKA SULU AS A GAY MAN RAISG A DGHTER WH HIS PARTNER. (VANY FAIR HAS REACHED OUT TO PARAMOUNT FOR NFIRMATN AND MENT, AND WILL UPDATE THIS POST ACRDGLY WHEN WE HEAR BACK.)SUCH A MOVE WOULD MARK A TONE FOR THE STAR TREK ANCHISE, WHICH, THOUGH FAMOLY TRAILBLAZG TERMS OF DIVERSY AND PROGRSIVE STORYL, HAS NEVER BEFORE FEATURED AN OPENLY GAY CREW MEMBER. JT DON’T EXPECT A DRAMATIC G-OUT MOMENT FOR SULU: “I LIKED THE APPROACH, WHICH WAS NOT TO MAKE A BIG THG OUT ,” ACTOR JOHN CHO, WHO PLAYS SULU THE NEW FILMS, TOLD THE HERALD SUN. “WHICH IS WHERE I HOPE WE ARE GOG AS A SPECI, TO NOT POLICIZE ONE’S PERSONAL ORIENTATNS.”CHO ALSO DITED THAT STAR TREK BEYOND SCREENWRER (AND -STAR) SIMON PEGG AND DIRECTOR JT L CID TO MAKE SULU OPENLY GAY AS AN HOMAGE TO GEE TAKEI, THE ACTOR WHO PLAYED SULU ON THE ORIGAL STAR TREK SERI. (SULU WAS NEVER GIVEN A ROMANTIC PARTNER OF EHER SEX PREV STAR TREK RNATNS, THOUGH HE DID HAVE A DGHTER.) THOUGH CLOSETED DURG THE SHOW’S N THE 1960S, TAKEI ME OUT PUBLICLY 2005, WHEN HE REVEALED THAT HE HAD BEEN WH HIS PARTNER, BRAD ALTMAN, FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS. THE PAIR MARRIED 2008.THE EXCG WORD ABOUT SULU’S ORIENTATN—AS WELL AS S LOW-KEY REVEAL—IS A NICE B OF POSIVE NEWS G OUT OF A PRS TOUR MARRED BY TRAGEDY: CHO, HIS ST, AND THE RT OF THE STAR TREK TEAM IS STILL GRAPPLG WH THE TRAGIC ATH OF THEIR RA ANTON YELCH, WHO DIED SUDNLY JUNE AT THE AGE OF 27. “IT’S VASTATG LOSG SOMEONE YOUR FAY,” CHO’S -STAR KARL URBAN TOLD THE HERALD SUN. “I’M HAVG A DIFFICULT TIME G TO GRIPS WH TALKG ABOUT HIM THE PAST TENSE—’S VERY RAW AND VERY PAFUL.”STAR TREK BEYOND OPENS JULY 22.MOST POPULARAND JT LIKE THAT: MICHAEL PATRICK KG KNOWS WHEN THE AUDIENCE TURNED ON CHE DIAZBY CHRIS MURPHYSARA RAMIREZ ISSU STHG RPONSE TO ANTI–CHE DIAZ PROFILEBY SAVANNAH WALSHTHE 25 BT SHOWS ON NETFLIX TO WATCH RIGHT NOWBY TARA ARIANOHILLARY BIS

Takei, 79, me out as gay 2005, and has sce gone on to bee an outspoken advote for LGBT rights. UPDATE: After news of this story broke, Takei lled the cisn to pict Sulu as a gay man “really unfortunate” a Hollywood Reporter terview. Promently volved wh gay rights and Japane Amerin groups, Takei has bee a highly popular social-media YearsGee Hosato Takei was born on April 20, 1937, Los Angel, California.

In 2005, Takei publicly announced his homosexualy to Frontiers magaze. Neverthels, Takei — who announced he was gay 2005 — was fully attuned to the gay equaly nversatn gag momentum at the time.

JOHN CHO’S SULU IS OFFICIALLY STAR TREK’S FIRST OPENLY GAY CHARACTER

Te to s tle, the latt big-screen outg, Star Trek Beyond, has gone where none have gone before: Star John Cho — who assum the Sulu mantle for the third time the reboots — has told Atralia’s Herald Sun that the character is revealed to be gay.

He had never asked for Sulu to be gay. “I’m lighted that there’s a gay character, ” he tells The Hollywood Reporter.

Takei tried to nvce him to make a new character gay stead. “I told him, ‘Be imagative and create a character who has a history of beg gay, rather than Sulu, who had been straight all this time, sudnly beg revealed as beg closeted.

GEE TAKEI LLS 'STAR TREK BEYOND' GAY SULU SCENE 'A WHISPER'

In other words, assumg non orthodoxy, this storyle suggt Sulu would have had to have first been gay and married, only to then go to the closet years later. Not long after Cho’s bombshell ll me another, this one om L, aga rmg him that Sulu was ed to be gay Star Trek Beyond.

'” Takei was certa the creative team had rethought their cisn to make Sulu gay.

Cho said was bound to e out that his character was gay, and “what should he do? “I really tried to work wh the people when at long last the issue of gay equaly was gog to be addrsed, ” Takei says.

'STAR TREK BEYOND'S SULU IS THE FRANCHISE'S FIRST GAY CHARACTER

Takei for his part is hopg to take Sulu new directns as well, potentially on CBS’ upg Star Trek seri, slated to premiere January and -n by Alex Kurtzman and Bryan Fuller, who is openly gay.