George Takei is “eager” to see a
new openly gay character in the upcoming CBS series Star Trek:
Discovery.
“I'm eager to see him,” Takei said
during Saturday's Unforgettable Gala, where he was presented with the
ICON Award.
Anthony Rapp, who originated the role
of Mark Cohen in the Broadway musical Rent, will play
Lieutenant Stamets, an openly gay “fungus expert and a Starfleet
science officer,” on Discovery.
Takei, whose character of Hikaru Sulu
on the original series was revealed to be gay in this year's Star
Trek Beyond, also explained how he had attempted to persuade
creator Gene Roddenberry to include a gay storyline during the show's
original run.
“Gene created all of the characters
as straight characters. Because of the times, it could not be on the
air if you have a gay character. In fact, we had one episode where
the white captain, Kirk, kissed the black Uhura, and that show was
blacked out – literally blacked out – in the Southern areas.
Stations in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia refused to
air it. We hit rock bottom.”
“I was lobbying Gene to do an episode
that deals with LGBT issues and equality,” Takei
explained. “He said, ‘I’m aware of that and I support that
but I’m walking a tightrope. I can’t step a little too far or the
show will be canceled.'”
“But those days are past,” he
added.