Actor George Takei says he wouldn't
change the timing of his coming out.
Takei, who is best known for his role
as Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek, is currently promoting a
documentary on his life titled To Be Takei.
In speaking with The
Huffington Post, Takei explained that he decided to come out
gay in 2005 after then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill
approved by California lawmakers allowing gay couples to marry.
“Before I came out publicly in 2005,
I became angry at Arnold Schwarzenegger for vetoing [the marriage
bill],” he said. “When he campaigned, he said, 'I'm from
Hollywood. I've worked with gays and lesbians. Some of my best
friends are gay.' So I expected him to sign the bill, having
campaigned as he did. He betrayed us because he was a Republican and
his base was the conservative right.”
“Looking back, would you ever change
anything about your coming out process?” he was asked.
“No. I'm proud of the fact that I
did what I did when I did it,” he answered.
(Related: George
Takei documentary To
Be Takei
arrives in select theaters Friday.)
Takei added that he feels a
responsibility to the gay Asian-American community.
“[Being gay] is not something that is
limited to whites or any other type of people,” he said. “I do
feel that responsibility, because I hold a certain position in
Japanese-American society.”