Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel's astonishingly long-lived late-night show, former Star Trek star and known homosexual George Takei offered a homo hand to homo hater, Tim Hardaway. Though he didn't specify where he'd be placing his pawn, we have a feeling it won't be a simple shake. More like a stroke, actually...

Obviously we're total nerds, so we definitely care that out actor and Star Trek alum George Takei will make his first Heroes appearance this lovely eve. He's signed on for at least three episodes to star as the ridiculously cute Hiro's daddy. Of course, Hiro's from Japan and, as such, his family speaks Japanese, requiring a bit of a challenge for LA-born Takei:

...Here I am, doing prime-time television, popular television, in Japanese. I haven’t, you know, worked in Japan in Japanese. And here I am in the United States, working in Japanese with English subtitles. So that’s a delight. But it’s also a challenge, because it is not my first language.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Takei-related article with a little discussion about his politically-motivated coming out:

You know, I’ve been out, with, certainly family and friends, and my Star Trek colleagues, for many, many years... The only thing I had not done is talk to the press” about it, something that changed when California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a same-sex marriage bill... When he played to the narrowest, most reactionary segment of his conservative base and vetoed, I felt I needed to speak out. And for me to do that, my voice needed to be authentic.

We hope that openly gay Star Trek alum George Takei wrote his own speech for the William Shatner Roast, because it was pure brilliance. He picks on Andy Dick's gayness, Farrah Fawcett's pubic bush, Shatner's bad hairpiece, and more, and with such perfect comic timing.

Watch it on Malcovision, but only if you are prepared to laugh outloud.

Takei Licks The Competition [The Malcontent]

• The police in St. Maarten have arrested two people in connection with the beatings of CBS producers Ryan Smith and Dick Jefferson. They were on the FRENCH side of the island! No wonder the police couldn't find them. [365 Gay]

• Openly gay actor George Takei (aka Mr. Sulu on Star Trek) will be joining the Soulforce Freedom Ride. [insert cheesy Star Trek play-on-words here]. [AP]

•Scott Brison, an openly gay Member of the Canadian Parliament (and former Conservative) will be announcing his candidacy to run for the head of the Liberal party this week, pulling the centrist party a bit more to the left (and into the pink). [FF Times]

• The Arizona bill that would have given married people preference in adoptions over "single" people failed by one vote on Monday. [AP]

• Former superstar Zimbabwe DJ Kevin Ncube has come out as gay. Known as the "Prince of the Airwaves" during his tenure at the ZBC, he is now living a happy homosexual life in England. [NewZimbabwe]

It is time for another So Gay! list and having yesterday listed the year’s villains, today we’re listing those worthy of respect and praise: 2005’s biggest coming out stories.

5. George Takei. Actor George Takei, best known as Mr. Sulu from Star Trek, surprised Trekkies around the world when he declared his homosexuality and spoke of his sibling’s lack of compassion. However, he did not comment on the Richard Gere/Tribble rumor.

4. Logo. MTV Networks launched their little gay channel that could this summer with a great mix of original programming and news. And the network’s commitment to blogs (we’ve been featured) makes us happy it came out this year even more.

3. Tab Hunter. The one time sex symbol and Hollywood star wrote a book, Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star, and in doing so came out of the closet. At 74, we’d just wish he’d done it sooner. But we totally think it’s never too late for the truth.

2. Sheryl Swoopes. Sheryl Swoopes is the bomb. She is a sport’s hero, a strong woman, and now an out and proud carpet muncher. In a field where gays are not supposed to show their faces, Ms. Swoopes did just that. We got mad love for you, baby.

The top coming out story of 2005 after the jump.

CONTINUED »

This is proving to be an absolutely fabulous week for celebrities coming out of the damn closet. First we had Sheryl Swoopes, a forward for the Houston Comets basketball team, publicly announcing that she only wants to get slam dunked by another woman. Her coming out was facilitated by a six figure endorsement deal with Olivia lesbian cruises.

Now, actor George Takei will be bringing declosetration to the world of science fiction. Famous for playing Mr. Sulu on Star Trek, Takei penned an autobiography To The Stars. Commenting on Amazon’s web site, one reader noted that in the book, Takei made no mention whatsoever of his love life. Wasn’t that reader perspicacious?

Still, as a victim of anti-Japanese prejudice in the United States during the Second World War, Takei has in the past shown himself capable of raising his voice in defense of oppressed minorities. Queerty hopes he will do so in defense of that delightful alphabet soup we call LGBT. If he doesn’t, may a pigeon leave a dropping in his hand print in cement at the Chinese Theater.