If next November, California voters reject the effort to amend their state constitution to ban same-sex marriage, actor George Takei and his partner of twenty-one years Brad Altman can rightfully claim some responsibility for its defeat. The two men are among the most vocal supporters of the recent decision by that state’s Supreme Court to allow same-sex marriage.

In fact, to help ensure the initiative’s defeat, Takei and Altman are using their own upcoming wedding to show their fellow citizens that not only is there nothing to fear about gay marriage, but that there is much to celebrate.

George Takei (left) & Brad Altman

Photo credit: Gil Kaan

AfterElton.com recently caught up with the two to discuss their impending nuptials, how Mr. Chekhov figured out Sulu was gay, and much more.

AfterElton.com: Congratulations on getting married later this year. Did one of you pop the question or was it just always assumed that if the option became available you were going to get married?
George Takei: As a matter of fact, we were expecting the ruling from the California Supreme Court. We didn’t know which way it was going to go, although the indication was that it was going to be favorable, so we had CNN going all the time. I just happened to be eating a sandwich and the ruling came down. Suddenly Brad fell down to his knees and I said, “What are you doing?” And he said, “George, will you marry me?” And I said, “Darn it! You beat me to it. I was going to ask you.” So that’s how it happened, the moment the word came down.

AE: So you were a couple that always felt like if that option became available, you were going to take advantage of it?
GT: Oh, yes. Well, you know we knew that the matter was in the Supreme Court for a few years. So this was in the air … so we had talked about getting married when it becomes legal.

Brad Altman: Another thing I wanted to add to what George just said, Michael, is to us, domestic partnership is sort of like being a second-class citizen. California, as you know, has a legal designation of domestic partnerships for same-gender couples, but that was never really an option that George and I considered because it doesn’t give the same weight or heft or emotion as is given to marriage in our society and culture.

And I think one of the key points about the California Supreme Court ruling that your readership should understand is that it’s not just that I don’t think domestic partnership is the same thing as a marriage – that is a key part of this Supreme Court ruling. They said domestic partnerships are not the same thing as marriage, and you and I know that’s the truth.

Photo credit: David McNew/Getty Images

AE: What do you say to the couples out there, especially the young gay men who are disinterested in marriage or don’t think it’s something particularly worth fighting for?
BA: I think that they need to see it in a broader perspective of a struggle for civil rights for all Americans. There’s going to be a lot of words said between now and November 4^th when the California voters decide on the anti-gay ballot initiative. But ultimately, when you boil it down, it’s about equal legal protection.

GT: There are many laws that litigate against gays and lesbians, bisexual and transgender people. Once [a gay couple] decide they want to be committed, there are other laws that make that relationship for a same-sex couple that much more unfair. They wouldn’t be able to share their pension rights, their insurance benefits, their inheritance rights. There are many, many laws that are unequal, and so equality in marriage is a great, both symbolic as well as a real, victory for the GLBT community.

Next page! Live long and prosper!