George Takei.

In 1966 George Takei, then 29, made TV history as an Asian-American actor in a leading role on a TV series, playing It. Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek. In October Takei made history again by telling Los Angeles LGBT magazine Frontiers that he's gay, in an interview about the East West Players stage production of Equus, in which he stars as psychiatrist Martin Dysart (through December 4).

You and your partner of 18 years, Brad Altman, have been out locally for years. Why did you come out now in the press?

I see the potential to contribute to [gay equality] as I have to the Japanese-American community and to the civil rights movement.

Even though you're third-generation American, from age 4 to 8 you were imprisoned with your family in a Japanese-American internment camp. How has that shaped you?

I remember how scary it was that day U.S. soldiers with bayonetted guns came to order us out of our home. My parents lost everything. We weren't criminals; we just happened to look like the people who bombed Pearl Harbor. The mistake of our society [that is being repeated by antigay forces] is not being able to recognize the fundamental ideals that this country stands for. We say that diversity is a strength of this country, [so] there's got to be a recognition of people with different orientations.

In Equus, Dysart learns a lot about himself through interacting with a disturbed young patient. Is there a message there for gay audiences?

They're both really outsiders. That may be a connection with the gay community.

Have you beard from Star Trek fans since coming out?

I've been getting a lot of e-mails, all very supportive. [Gay Trekkies] are delighted Star Fleet now includes them.

--Interviewed by Bruce C Steele. Find a longer version at www.advocate.com