The celebrities who have become ministers of the Universal Life Church come from all walks of life. In many cases, these famous individuals have decided to become ordained because they want to spread love and help couples make their weddings even more special. One great example of a caring celebrity who joined the ranks of the ULC is George Takei. For decades, Takei has been a prominent actor and proponent of equality. Learn more about Takei’s life and journey to become a ULC minister.
Early Years of Struggle
George Takei was born Hosato Takei to Japanese-American parents in Los Angeles, California in 1937. During this time, the United States was incredibly hostile toward citizens of Asian descent and accused many of being spies for Japan. Takei often recounts how he and his parents were shuffled between several internment camps until World War II came to an end and they were released. Upon being let out, the family had no money or resources and were forced to live in the Skid Row neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Takei states that these early experiences gave him a strong sense of what was right and wrong. He believed the struggle showed him how many people in America suffered without being acknowledged, and this set the stage for a lifetime of caring about social issues.
A Career in Space
Takei took an interest in performing at an early age. He would spend the 1950s doing a good amount of voiceover work for a variety of English-dubbed movies from Japan, including several famous films attached to the Godzilla franchise. Though he would appear in a number of American-made productions during this period, it was not until 1965 that he got what would be considered his big break.
Screenwriter Gene Roddenberry was looking to cast a diverse group of actors in a new sci-fi series he was planning called “Star Trek.” Takei was cast as the Sulu, the helmsman of the USS Enterprise starship. The role would prove an enormous success for Takei, who landed many prominent acting roles after the first season of “Star Trek” came to a close. Takei would continue to appear as Sulu for decades as the franchise expanded and new television series about the Star Trek universe were released.
A Need To Be Himself
Throughout the 1970s, fans of “Star Trek” speculated that George Takei might be gay. However, the actor would not confirm this for many years. In 2005, he revealed that he was gay and in a long-term relationship with producer Brad Altman since 1987. Takei decided to come out when he did because the topic of same-sex marriage was dominating the news cycle. He believed that admitting his sexuality to the public would help to bridge understanding between the LGBTQ+ community and those who opposed the idea of same-sex unions.
Since he officially came out, Takei has been a vocal proponent on a number of social issues. Specifically, he led many campaigns to help promote same-sex marriage. After the state of California legalized such unions in 2008, Takei and his partner became the first couple in West Hollywood to apply for a marriage license. He would continue to act as a spokesperson for marriage equality until the Supreme Court legalized the unions on a federal level in 2015.
A Desire To Help
Takei’s early life in internment camps and his homosexuality led him to become a celebrity who is constantly seeking justice for marginalized groups. He became an ordained minister of the ULC in order to make it easier for same-sex couples to tie the knot, though he has not publicly stated any details about the marriages he has officiated.
Though the idealistic future depicted on “Star Trek” might be a work of fiction, individuals like George Takei have committed their lives to making tomorrow a better place for all. If we follow his example, it is easy to see how everyone can live long and prosper.