By now, most of us know that in today’s new release Star Trek Beyond, Hikaru Sulu is revealed to be gay. There are many strong opinions on both sides of the issue, some rational; some, not so much. The logical perceptions on either side are:
“Yay! We’re finally including an LGBT character in a normal, non-political-soapbox kind of way.”
Or there’s this one:
“No! This isn’t canon! Sulu has always been assumed to be straight. They should have created a new character to represent the LGBT community.”
The moment is presented in such a subtle way that I doubt many people would have even noticed, if it hadn’t been leaked beforehand. The Enterprise docks at a new space station, and several members of the crew have loved ones there waiting for them, including Sulu’s husband and their young daughter. Hikaru scoops up the little girl. The two men embrace, and then disappear into the crowd. That’s it.
But, in an interview with Vulture, actor John Cho revealed that there was one more detail, a bit less subtle, that ended up on the cutting room floor: a kiss between Sulu and his husband, played by the film’s co-writer Doug Jung.
“It wasn’t like a make-out session. We’re at the airport with our daughter. It was a welcome-home kiss. I’m actually proud of that scene, because it was pretty tough. Obviously, I just met the kid, and then Doug is not an actor. I just wanted it to look convincingly intimate. We’re two straight guys and had to get to a very loving, intimate place.”
Cho also mentioned his fears about how Sulu’s original portrayer, George Takei, would react to the change. Takei is an openly gay man and an ardent activist for the LGBT community, but he’s also an actor who still feels a certain loyalty to creator Gene Roddenberry’s original vision.
“He’s a gay actor who played a straight part and crafted a straight character. I didn’t want him to feel that we had reduced him to his sexuality by sort of borrowing this bit, if you will, from his life.”
For his part, Takei stated:
“I’m delighted that there’s a gay character. Unfortunately, it’s a twisting of Gene’s creation, into which he put so much thought.”
Cho’s response:
“It turned out that George’s objection was mostly, as I understand it, ‘This isn’t canon.’ It didn’t turn out to be a political argument at all. Everything he does in the Star Trek universe, it’s like, what would Roddenberry do? I’ve got to respect him for that.”
It sounds like the two Sulus have agreed to disagree, in a very civil manner. As for other cast members’ thoughts, Scotty actor and co-writer Simon Pegg has stated that he “respectfully disagrees” with Takei’s reaction. Meanwhile, Zachary Quinto, aka Spock, himself an openly gay actor, said:
My hope is that eventually, George can be strengthened by the enormously positive response, especially from young people, inspired by this really tasteful and beautiful portrayal of something that I think is gaining acceptance and inclusion in societies across the world, as it should be.”
What are your thoughts on Sulu’s marital status, and his welcome-home kiss being cut? Let us know in the comments!
Source: Vulture