marriage

WEDDING VOWS 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.

Japanese-American actor George Takei best known for his portrayal of Mr Sulu in the Star Trek television and film series, has married his longtime partner on Sunday.

Better known as Star Trek's Mr Sulu, Japanese-American actor George Takei married his longtime partner and business manager Brad Altman on Sunday in a multicultural ceremony at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles with 200 guests in attendance. Takei, 71, and Altman, 54, were the first couple to receive a marriage license in West Hollywood when California began issuing them to gay couples on June 17, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation noted. The couple, who have been together for 21 years, exchanged vows written by themselves at a ceremony that featured a Buddhist priest, Native American wedding bands, a Japanese Koto harp and a bagpipe procession. "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," Takei said. According to media reports, Walter Koenig, who played navigator Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek cast, and Nichelle Nichols, who portrayed communications officer Lieutenant Uhura, served as "best man" and "best lady." Takei was quoted as saying that he and Altman chose to make their wedding public as they have been outspoken gay-rights advocates for years and for the sake of democracy. "We have a relationship that's been stronger and longer-lived than some of our straight friends, and yet we were not equal," Takei told The Associated Press before the ceremony. "What this does is give us that dignity; (it's) being part of the American system and being whole. We're making the American system whole as well, as America is becoming more equal." This is the second celebrity wedding in California after comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and Australian actress Portia de Rossi, married on August 16 after California became the second US state after Massachusetts to permit gay marriage in June this year. As Americans head to the polls on Nov 4 to vote for Republican candidate John McCain or Democratic candidate Barack Obama for president, Californians voters will also decide whether to amend the state constitution to limit marriage to unions between men and women and thereby reverse the state's recent Supreme Court decision alongside other issues.