Star Trek’s Mr. Sulu Gets Married! Congrats George and Brad!

By Jim on September 15th, 2008

Good for you and your hubbie, George. Live long and prosper indeed!

What George Takei and Brad Altman vowed to each other during their wedding ceremony
at the Democracy Forum of the Japanese American National Museum
in Los Angeles on September 14, 2008.

Brad Altman’s Vows
Over the more than 21 years we have been together, I have called you many things.
Some of the things I have called you I can repeat here.
I have called you:
–my life partner,
–my significant other,
–my longtime companion,
–my lover.
Now the California Supreme Court says our Golden State has marriage equality. Beginning today, a dream comes true for me.
I can add “my husband” to the list of things I call you.
George, I pledge to love you in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad times.
I vow to love you always as my lawfully wedded husband.

George Takei’s Vows
Brad, I first saw you about twenty-five years ago at a Frontrunner’s run around Silver Lake reservoir. I thought you were drop-dead gorgeous! Then I saw that you were the best runner in the club to boot. Later, I learned that you had already run two marathons. I decided you were going to train me for my first marathon. And you did. You did a good job because I finished that 26.2 mile run. Since then, we’ve been running the marathon of life together for the last 21 years.

In those years, we’ve come to know each others’ strengths, shortcomings, and where we complement each other. Brad, you are an organized, detail obsessed, punctuality driven control freak. I’m easy-going with details. So we’re a perfect fit. We’ve worked together, achieved together, and enjoyed the fruits of our achievements together.

When my mother became ill and no longer could take care of herself, we moved her in with us. And you helped me care for her with the devotion and affection of a true son. So my vow to you is also a tribute to you.

As we bind our love with this wedding ceremony, in this forum of democracy, in this September of my life, I vow to care for you as you’ve cared for me, cherish you with all my heart, and love you as my husband and the only man in my life. I love you very much.

Takei, 71, and Brad Altman, 54, were pronounced “spouses for life”.

Two hundred guests attended the emotional ceremony in downtown Los Angeles. Takei’s Star Trek co-stars, Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Uhura) and Walter Koenig (Pavel Chekov), were maid of honour and best man respectively.

The couple wore matching white tuxedo jackets with black trousers and bow ties. Music was provided by a Japanese koto harp and bagpipe procession, and they made their grand entrance to One Singular Sensation from the Broadway musical A Chorus Line.

They stepped into a circle of yellow rose petals to exchange vows, which they had written themselves.

Takei and Altman have been together for 21 years and announced their wedding plans in May after California’s Supreme Court legalised same sex marriage.

Altman described Takei as his “life partner, significant other… now I can add ‘my husband’ to the list of things I call you.”

Takei joked that his partner was an “organised, detail-obsessed, punctuality-driven control freak”, adding: “I’m easygoing with details, so we’re a good fit.”

Taking Altman’s hands in his, the actor said: “I vow to care for you as you’ve cared for me… and to love you as my husband and the only man in my life.”

Afterwards, the happy couple posed for photographs and Takei flashed the Star Trek “live long and prosper” hand signal.