sulu was gay. >> there were a lot of those. >> there were positive reactions. did you get negative reactions as well? >> was negative as well. but it was overwhelmingly positive. i went on a nationwide speaking tour in partnership with the human rights campaign. i spoke at universities, at corporate meetings. at governmental agencies. and then i loipped for various -- lobbied for various issues like don't ask, don't tell in washington, as well as in sacramento, the california state capitol. >> you have lived an amazing life and a big part of that life is star trek. when we come back, we're going to talk more to george takei about star trek, after this. al jazeera america. we open up your world. >> here on america tonight, an opportunity for all of america to be heard. >> our shows explore the issues that shape our lives. >> new questions are raised about the american intervention. >> from unexpected viewpoints to live changing innovations, dollars and cents to powerful storytelling. >> we are at a tipping point in america's history! >> al jazeera america. there

although george takei is perhaps best known as playing lieutenant sulu on star trek, he has a decades long career, and recently wrote and start in a musical, regarding japanese internment. something he has an intimate knowledge of. he went to a camp at the age five. he's a bold outspoken support er of gay rights, he has 800,000 twitter followers, let alone his own youtube series. george takei, good to have you here. >> good to be here. >> i turned on my tv set not long ago and your face, was there, you're talking to journalists and knowledge legislators. you have as much of a passion for politics as you do for star trek. >> i'm a passionate guy and we live in a world that has so many things that you can be passionate about. either positively or l sometimes in rage. >> talk about your political came. where -- l activism. where does that come from? >> japanese, we were captured by the japanese -- we are american citizens, brn and raise -- born and raised. my mother was born in sacramento. my father in san francisco. right after the bombing of pearl harbor, president roosevelt on februar

although george takei is perhaps best known as playing lieutenant sulu on star trek, he has a decades long career, and recently wrote and start in a musical, regarding japanese internment. something he has an intimate knowledge of. he went to

although george takei is perhaps best known as playing lieutenant sulu on star trek, he has a decades long career, and recently wrote and start in a musical, regarding japanese internment. something he has an intimate knowledge of. he went

. >> he played lieutenant sulu. but he's out spoken for gay rights. george takei. >> i was living a double life. gay bars but all surreptitious, secret. on techknow, our scientists bring you a sneak-peak of the future, and take you behind the scenes at our evolving world. techknow - ideas, invention, life. on al jazeera america >> welcome back to "talk to al jazeera". this week we're replaying some of the more memorable moaments since our channel launched. in december the world lost one of its most respected and honored leaders. nelson mandela. ali velshi was there to attend to the passing of the leader. he talked to jimmy carter. >> i never heard him say he was grateful to the united states. he was grateful to cuba. he was grateful to others. that spoke up for him while he was still in prison. he was grateful to the people that condemned the apartheid regime but i don't think that he felt that his freedom and the change that took place in south africa was attributable to the united states. when i first met nelson mandela, the first thing he did was c

. >> he played lieutenant sulu. but he's out spoken for gay rights. george takei. >> i was living a double life. gay bars but all surreptitious, secret. >> start with one issue education... gun control... the gap between rich and poor... job creation... climate change... tax policy... the economy... iran... healthcare... ad guests on all sides of the debate. >> this is a right we should all have... >> it's just the way it is... >> there's something seriously wrong... >> there's been acrimony... >> the conservative ideal... >> it's an urgent need... and a host willing to ask the tough questions >> how do you explain it to yourself? and you'll get... the inside story ray suarez hosts inside story weekdays at 5 eastern only on al jazeera america battered. she says she was beaten, burns indonesiaians are treated like ghosts. >> i would say slaifs like and vulnerable to bruce and vulnerable to exploitation. >> agencies say they were not aware of the problems until she returned home. the police accused the agency of not providing enough evidence. >> welcome

have fled their homes in search of safety it is still unclear who controls the western iraqi city of sulu jump. what was the epicenter back in two thousand four of the bloodiest battles us troops had seen since the vietnam war still outside of government control baghdad so far refrained from an all out assault on falluja. prime minister mariano the key instead calling on residents themselves to expel what he calls terrorists this is the senior tribal leader insisted. i've already left town. those sunni radical militants the islamic state of iraq and the love fonts also involved in a free wi fi to cross the border in syria government forces and modern rebels who claim to flush them out in parts. i recall the surrey. since you've seen me and rebels taking hold of al qaeda links. the acting in the wrong hands. let the market tanks during that time. they're not tied to any extremist group also known as icy as the eye the raccoons with the force is not fighting the group are made up of both moderates and financed the entire team comes after months of increasing resentment of the script. who ar