By Laura Medina
"Star Trek's" Hikaru Sulu a.k.a. George Takei was one of the three headliners at UCLA's Human Library conference.
The Human Library is basically getting to know real people, behind the derogatory stereotype images, during these diverse times.
Through-out the day, there are one-to-one pods where you can talk to a sexual crime victim, a real American of Latin background proving they're not illegal immigrant gang-bangers, and what a real homeless person looks and what actually got them there.
But let's face it, the star of the conference is the legendary "Star Trek" alumni Hikaru Sulu, George Takei.
He stressed the importance of marginalized people to be in film and tv, in greater variety of roles, proving to the greater world that they do exist in many roles in society.
Despite being intern in a concentration camp then having his family start over in Skid Row (the crazy people are still there in Skin Row), as his father had to start over buying real estate in Mid-Wilshire (George said the Koreans didn't migrate there until the Seventies), George know that he and other minorities need to be in media to expose to other people that he and other minorities do exist.
Remember, this was the forties and fifties and he wanted to move to the Actor's Studio Conservatory in New York; and they didn't offer degrees.
His dad made a deal with George. He'll stay home in LA, go to UCLA for acting then you'll get a Bachelor degree in Acting from UCLA. Deal.
His first movie was with Richard Burton.
When he got hired by Gene Roddenberry for Star Trek, Gene explained that the starship, U.S.S. Enterprise is a microcosm of the planet Earth and he wanted actors from all sorts of ethnicities and background in his show. Basically, it's Earth hurling through space and real human beings interacting and adjusting to all sorts of living beings in their planet and cultures.
George stressed, even in this day and age, we still more minorities and marginalized people in film and tv and social media to expose people to other people.
As for his marriage and sexual preference, this is more of an history lesson for younger people who have it easier.
When he was a rising young actor in the fifties and sixties, George used to real the tabloids on the All-American heart-throb, Tab Hunter. When those tabloids leaked rumors about Tab being gay, George watched Tab's acting career disappear. This forced George to be discreet about his preference until much later. Once gay marriage has been legalized, George and Brad are happy.
Onward and forward, George Takei.
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