George Takei Thinks Star Trek: Discovery’s Gay Character Is How It ‘Should Have Been Done’

Earlier this year George Takei let it be known that he wasn’t too impressed with Star Trek Beyond revealing that in that incarnation if the Trek universe, Sulu is married to a guy. In Takei’s thinking, the character had always been straight in the Original Series and movies, and so making him gay, even in an alternate timeline, wasn’t right.

At the time, he said he would welcome more LGBT representation in the franchise, but felt it should be done with a new character. He’s very happy then, that in the upcoming Star Trek: Discovery, Anthony Rapp will be playing a major gay character.

Last Saturday Takei was presented with the ICON Award at the Unforgettable Gala, which honors Asians in entertainment. There he said (via Variety) of Rapp’s character, “I’m eager to see him.”

He added, “When I was informed they were making Sulu gay, I said, ‘It’s wonderful that they can deal with the gay issue. But honor Gene. It’s not about me. It’s about Gene’s vision and respect him and respect the characters that he created.’ But be as imaginative and creative as Gene was., Create a new character and make him or her gay with the issues he or she might have to deal with in the 23rd century. That would be exciting. That would be paying tribute.”

Instead, “…They made Sulu gay. They said it was a tribute to me, so I appreciate that part. But now Gene is really going to be honored by Star Trek: Discovery having that original character, played by a wonderfully talented actor. I think it is the way it should’ve been done.”

Not too much is known about Rapp’s character, other than that he called called Lt. Stamets, ‘an astromycologist, fungus expert and Starfleet science officer on the starship Discovery’. The show will debut next May.