George Takei, 'Mr. Sulu,' says he's gay

"The issue of gay marriage is now a political issue. That would have been unthinkable when I was young."

"It's more like a long, long walk through what began as a narrow corridor that starts to widen. And then some doors are open and light comes in, and there are skylights and it widens. Brad's my partner, we've been together for 18 years. So, I've been 'open,' but I have not talked to the press. In that sense, maybe that's another opening of the corridor there."

Takei, a Japanese-American who lived in a U.S. internment camp from age 4 to 8, said he grew up feeling ashamed of his ethnicity and sexuality. He likened prejudice against gays to racial segregation.

"It's against basic decency and what American values stand for," he said.

Note to self ' When Howard Stern hints at someone's sexual - I must pay more attention'