Mr. Sulu Gets Married

After being pronounced "spouses for life," a bagpiper leads Brad Altman, second left, and actor George Takei from their wedding at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy to a reception at the Japanese American National Museum, in Los Angeles. Behind Takei are fellow "Star Trek" actors Walter Koenig and Nichelle Nicols. They served as best man and best lady.

Brad Altman, left, and actor George Takei are showered with confetti on their wedding day, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. Together for 21 years, Takei, 71, and Altman, 54, were married in a multicultural ceremony at the Japanese American National Museum that featured a Buddhist priest, Native American wedding bands, a Japanese Koto harp and a bagpipe procession.

From left, Nichelle Nicols, Brad Altman, George Takei and Walter Koenig pose for photos following the wedding of Altman and Takei at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy in Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. Nicols, Takei and Koenig are members of the original cast of "Star Trek."

Brad Altman, left, and actor George Takei pose for photos on their wedding day at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, in the Little Tokyo section of Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. Their legal marriage became possible this year when the California Supreme Court overturned the state ban on gay marriage.

Brad Altman, left, and actor George Takei pose for photos on their wedding day at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, in the Little Tokyo section of Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. "I thought that I would never have marriage in my life," Takei said. "We want the responsibilities of marriage, we want the enjoyment of marriage," said Altman.

Takei and Altman were among the first couples to receive a marriage license in West Hollywood when California began granting licenses to gay couples on June 17, 2008. Takei said they chose to make their wedding public - and have been outspoken gay-rights advocates for years - for the sake of democracy.