Star Trek's George Takei and his partner, Brad Altman, will be some of the first people in line in West Hollywood on Tuesday. On the night before they take the plunge they sit down with Ross von Metzke for The Advocate
Days after Ellen and Portia became the first celebrity couple to announce they’d be getting married as the result of California’s supreme court ruling, George Takei announced he and longtime partner Brad Altman would be taking a trip down the aisle. On the eve of George and Brad taking a trip to West Hollywood park to obtain their marriage license, The Advocate caught up with the couple to talk about their 21-year engagement, forthcoming nuptials, and how a few of George’s Star Trek costars will figure into the ceremony.
You’ve been together 21 years. Did either of you ever think you’d see this day?
George Takei: Frankly, we dreamed about it, but it seemed very far off.
Brad Altman: The excitement and thrill that we feel for knowing that tomorrow morning we're going to apply for and receive our marriage licenses is that the California political climate before the Supreme Court ruling was sort of iffy. It was a very courageous decision by the high court. It basically says that all people are equal in California when it comes to marriage.
GT: It’s like when the California Supreme Court in 1948 deemed that interracial marriage is constitutional. It’s as profound as that.
Three of these four judges were Republican appointees. Politically, what are your feelings on this decision?
BA: It seems like the tent is getting bigger. Fair-minded Californians are beginning to realize that the arguments for marriage discrimination for GLBT people are sounding a little feeble. They really aren’t coming up with any good zingers anymore.
GT: I’ve always believed in the two-party system. There are certain broad values that belong to one party and other broad values that belong to another party, but the moderate area is where the real progress comes from. It took Republicans—and particularly Chief Justice Ronald George. I think he has been a true definer of the ideals of American democracy. That also is going to take the rug out from under the people who are opposing us.
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