The latest incarnation of the Star Trek TV series, Star Trek: Discovery, is shaping up to have all the expectations of a diversified cast as was promised to us in the beginning. Angela Basset is not helming the U.S.S. Discovery as former showrunner Bryan Fuller once dreamed but Michelle Yeoh is and she is an equally amazing choice for the job. In addition, Anthony Rapp was cast as Lt. Stamets, a gay science officer. Over the summer it was revealed that in the film Star Trek Beyond the character Sulu, played by John Cho, was gay in tribute to the original Sulu, George Takei. George surprised many, including scriptwriter Simon Pegg and director Justin Lin, by saying he wished Sulu had not been Star Trek’s first openly gay character. His reason was solely based on Gene Roddenberry’s vision and story arc for the character. Now that Lt. Stamets, a completely original character, has been introduced, George is happy and says this is all he wanted in the first place.

George Takei is thrilled that the upcoming series “Star Trek: Discovery” will feature an openly gay character.

“I’m eager to see him,” Takei said of Anthony Rapp, who will portray a gay Starfleet science officer on the upcoming CBS All Access spin-off.

Takei, who is openly gay, talked about LGBT characters in the “Trek” universe at Saturday’s Unforgettable Gala, honoring Asians in entertainment, where he was presented with the ICON Award.

“When I was informed they were making Sulu gay, I said, ‘It’s wonderful that they can deal with the gay issue. But honor Gene. It’s not about me. It’s about Gene’s vision and respect him and respect the characters that he created.’”

“But be as imaginative and creative as Gene was,” Takei advised producers, “Create a new character and make him or her gay with the issues he or she might have to deal with in the 23rd century. That would be exciting. That would be paying tribute.”

Instead, producers chose to make Sulu gay in 2016’s “Star Trek Beyond.”

“I wasn’t persuasive and they made Sulu gay. They said it was a tribute to me, so I appreciate that part,” Takei explained. “But now Gene is really going to be honored by ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ by having that original character, played by a wonderfully talented actor. I think it is the way it should’ve been done.”

[From Variety]

I never found fault in George’s original objection. I thought he made his point pretty clear. I admired him for putting canon before himself, sacrifice for the greater whole and all that. But it is great that everyone is happy now and that the Star Trek universe continues to be a beacon for diversity. Side-Note: three Starfeet officers have been cast as well as three Klingons. The Klingon storyline of trying to unite the houses sounds pretty intriguing.

George has become well-known for his Twitter and Facebook accounts. He is generally the funniest thing on social media. Unfortunately, this has waned since the election because George is too shocked by the PEOTUS and his cabinet choices to find the humor. He still gets a few in, though:

You're hot and you're cold. pic.twitter.com/TPHVw3AaFA

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) December 11, 2016

Perhaps Trump appoints people even more implausibly less experienced or qualified than him so he doesn't seem like the worst of the bunch.

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) December 13, 2016

George is currently starring in his Broadway debut called Allegiance (that was screened in cinemas nationwide last night through Fathom Events). The musical is something George has long wanted to produce as it deals with Japanese-American internment during WWII, George and his family were subjected to. So happy was George with the funds raised to get the play up and running, George gifted us all with his Happy Dance – and it was glorious:

Photo credit: Wenn Photos and Getty Images