Actor George Takei on Saturday received
GLAAD's Vito Russo Award at the 25th annual GLAAD Media
Awards in New York City.
The award honors an openly LGBT media
professional who has made a significant difference promoting gay
rights.
The 77-year-old Takei, who is best
known for his role as Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek, came
out in 2005, prompted by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's
veto of a gay marriage bill. Three years later, he married Brad
Altman in California.
Stafford
Arima, director of the upcoming Broadway musical Allegiance
starring Takei, presented
the award.
During his
acceptance speech, Takei joked that he especially wanted to thank
“young straight couples because they will be making the gay babies
of tomorrow.”
“Working
in concert with GLAAD, with it's history of achievement and the
legacy of Vito Russo, we will make this a better world, a more equal
society for all people, for all people. And especially young
straight couples, because they are going to be making the gay babies
of tomorrow,” Takei said. (The video is embedded on this page.
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(Related:
Kacey
Musgraves “proud” to represent country music at GLAAD Media
Awards.)