June is a special month, and that is because it is Pride Month! What is Pride? Great question! Pride is a celebration of people who identify as being part of the LBGTQIA community. With Pride in mind, we will be looking at the life of one of the gay rights’ most prominent advocates, George Takei, in his documentary, Takei.
If you are not familiar with George Takei, he is an actor that started in Star Trek as the original Mr. Sulu alongside William Shatner (Kirk) and Leonard Nimoy (Spock). He is also known for his voice work, with his trademark baritone and catchphrase; “Oh my!”
Viewers will enjoy this award-winning picture where we have the opportunity to learn more about the actor and his life. He faced many hurdles growing up in California, forced to move to an internment camp, his first experience with a partner of the same sex, fighting against stereotypes in casting calls, fighting for marriage equality, and living with his husband, Brad.
I think this is an important documentary, and the reasons it is an award winner are clear. Viewers will learn about George’s life and challenges through a flurry of interviews threaded throughout the documentary as he fights for same-sex rights and pushes for people to care about the Japanese internment camps during World War II. George’s story is unique but highlights many of the same struggles other people in the LBGTQIA community endure.
The late Leonard Nimoy states in one part of the documentary, “I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to hide that identity; it has been so difficult, tiring, disparaging.”
I hope you enjoyed this piece as much as I did, as well as feel inspired to help fight for human rights and civil rights. We are fortunate to have more transparency and acceptance now as compared to when George was first in the spotlight, but there is still work to be done. May we continue to make George and others proud.
To watch the film, click here.
