Overview

• The graphic novel It Rhymes with Takei, illustrated by Harmony Becker, Justin Eisinger and Steven Scott, portrays his childhood behind barbed wire during World War II internment.
• Takei publicly came out at age 68 after Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed California’s same-sex marriage bill and described the decision as liberating after years of concealment.
• He married longtime partner Brad Altman in 2008 with Nichelle Nichols serving as their maid of honor and emphasizes their relationship as a foundation of mutual support.
• In reflecting on Trump’s vow to invoke the Alien Enemies Act, Takei links historical injustices against Japanese Americans to contemporary political actions.
• Beyond personal narrative, he calls for continued LGBTQ+ representation in Hollywood and sustained advocacy to protect democratic and civil rights.