Pretty sure they aren't setting a trend where any character played by gay actor will become gay.
HUGE Mr Sulu Spoiler
- Thread starter Danlav05
- Start date
Great article. I also agree that George is wrong on this and I'm disappointed by his stance. As a gay man myself I've been very disappointed with the lack of LGBT representation on Star Trek.
I strongly think if we look at Trek's storyline where inter-species relationships are the norm, humanity like would have become pansexual.
Also to be honest George has never been thrilled with the idea of another actor playing Sulu. I think some of this might be left over bitterness.
I'm happy Paramount took the lead on this.
Any backlash from embittered fans will be offset by members of the LGBT community going to see a mainstream Hollywood film which protrays a gay character.
http://www.hypable.com/star-trek-beyond-sulu-gay-cho-takei/
As this article concludes with, it's over to you Disney!
Funny how no one's ever worried about heterosexuality being forced on the audience.
Dammit JIm, this is the prime universe not the pride universe!
Not making a statement, just a bad joke...
Not making a statement, just a bad joke...
Before you know it, Disney's "move" will be to send CBS a $3b check.
Good. Bigots will just have to cope with the fact that the drive to equality for all minorities will never stop.
You made a thread about this a while back. I think you even said the exact same thing!
I think that thread still exists in the TOS board somewhere. I don't think I said the exact same words. I thought the video was a fitting response to JKMs. Its one of the more creative scenes in TOS and one of my favorite in jokes that the producers came up with.
What is a "gay voice" or "gay vibe"? How is Quinto revealing his sexuality through the character of Spock? You're entitled to your opinion about the announcement, but you're not entitled to make homophobic remarks. Infraction for trolling. Comments to PM.
On another board, someone said he thought of Sulu as being gay once Takei came out, and from that angle I can see where George Takei is coming from. Sulu is his defining role -- that he played as straight -- and now there are people who have trouble separating the actor from the role, which happens all the time and isn't limited to just him. But perhaps he perceives that as a slight on his acting abilities? I don't know.
On the other hand, nothing on screen ever defined Sulu's sexuality. And making a key character who will be in all the sequels gay says a lot more than making Ensign Billy who is in the movie for 15 seconds gay. Was Lt. Hawk from First Contact actually gay in the shooting script or was that just something from one of the novels? Other than who the actor eventually became, that was otherwise a nothing role.
On the other hand, nothing on screen ever defined Sulu's sexuality. And making a key character who will be in all the sequels gay says a lot more than making Ensign Billy who is in the movie for 15 seconds gay. Was Lt. Hawk from First Contact actually gay in the shooting script or was that just something from one of the novels? Other than who the actor eventually became, that was otherwise a nothing role.
Yeah I've seen that clip on youtube (as well as when I originally watched it) except the youtube clip I watched had the cheesy music added, it was hilarious.
While Trek has often been on the leading edge of racial, social, and political commentary, sadly in terms of LGBT characters it has consistently fallen behind other mainstream television and movie franchises. Part of that is due to Roddenberry's and other producers own prejudices and/or cowardice about depicting gay characters, so I don't particularly care about honoring "Gene's vision" for Sulu's character, which is not even entirely the same character as the reboot universe Sulu anyway. Some of the characters have different birthdates and backstories, so why should changing sexualities be any different?
Sulu barely had any significant characterization as a straight person in the Prime Universe for bigots or purists to cling to anyway. He waxed poetic about one woman in TOS, made googly eyes at a walking pheromone bomb in TMP, and admired a muscular Klingon woman in TFF. Gay people can find women attractive and talk about how hot they are too. I'm pretty sure entire shows on Bravo revolve around this concept, among many other examples like every awards show's red carpet coverage.
While it would have been a welcome addition if they had any gay character in the new movie, the fact that they have chosen such a prominent character makes it all the more worthwhile and less likely to be dismissed or forgotten. Trek was way behind the times on this issue, so maybe a more dramatic example was necessary?
Additionally, making Sulu a father again as he was in the Prime Universe with Demora helps normalize the idea of gay parents, which sadly is still something that some backwards people question in 2016 either out of ignorance or bigotry.
I respect Takei's right to his opinion, but it's unfortunate that he took this position, since the bigots are going to latch onto it as an excuse to justify their own hatred, when his reasoning had nothing to do with opposition to gay characters in general, just to Sulu being gay (even though I disagree with his reasoning).
Sulu barely had any significant characterization as a straight person in the Prime Universe for bigots or purists to cling to anyway. He waxed poetic about one woman in TOS, made googly eyes at a walking pheromone bomb in TMP, and admired a muscular Klingon woman in TFF. Gay people can find women attractive and talk about how hot they are too. I'm pretty sure entire shows on Bravo revolve around this concept, among many other examples like every awards show's red carpet coverage.
While it would have been a welcome addition if they had any gay character in the new movie, the fact that they have chosen such a prominent character makes it all the more worthwhile and less likely to be dismissed or forgotten. Trek was way behind the times on this issue, so maybe a more dramatic example was necessary?
Additionally, making Sulu a father again as he was in the Prime Universe with Demora helps normalize the idea of gay parents, which sadly is still something that some backwards people question in 2016 either out of ignorance or bigotry.
I respect Takei's right to his opinion, but it's unfortunate that he took this position, since the bigots are going to latch onto it as an excuse to justify their own hatred, when his reasoning had nothing to do with opposition to gay characters in general, just to Sulu being gay (even though I disagree with his reasoning).
It is major movie news though. There was even a recent fan movement to give Captain America a boyfriend.
With Star Trek set in a universe where inter-species relationships are commonplace and accepted; I find it astounding some people still find offense in the portrayal of two members of the same species sharing their lives together.
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Indeed, and I've already seen a few latching onto it, which is frustrating. Having Sulu be gay will leave far more of an impression than having Ensign Redshirt McPhaserTarget be gay. So this is a chance to make a lasting impression, to do service to a well known, well liked character. That George Takei doesn't agree is a bit sad, but it doesn't change the legitimacy of the action. Plus, who knows? He may come around once he sees it on screen.
That's because two humans of the same sex being together isn't natural! *goes to ogle green skinned Orion woman*
Uh... Captain America? He's definitely straight!
You may just want to avoid Tumblr, then.
Takei just feels protective about the integrity of the character that was his for so long, possibly frustrated that it's out of his hands now. When Starbuck became a woman, Dirk Benedict received a lot of stick for voicing his displeasure but I think he warmed to the idea. This will just give Takei a talking point for years to come.
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I do think he'll warm to the idea. Right now he hasn't seen the end result, so he's probably unsure just how this has been handled. As I said before, I like George a lot (like many of his fans I call him "Uncle George"), but this is a case of the better option happening on screen.
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