George Takei was quoted today as having found his mission in life by having the social leverage afforded him as a famous Star Trek actor. He clearly is a great social activist for a lot of different causes, especially in the LGBT communities and in the various fights for equality throughout our country.

What other Star Trek actors or actresses have become philanthropists, social activists, or otherwise are using their fame for good?

What comes first to mind is Avery Brooks. Before his involvement, just about everything dealing with race in Star Trek was somehow coded in aliens. Black on one half of the face, white on the other half. Klingons against Romulans. Nothing was ever addressed directly.

But Sisko was the first character who was clearly given African-American identity. Creole food and Jazz.

And Far Beyond the Stars brought that to a whole new level. If anything, the sci-fi frame story hindered the content of the episode. Even beyond the Trek context, it was an amazing examination of racism in the 50s.

And even in episodes like Badda Bing, Badda Bang, Sisko prominently displays his Black identity in expressing reservations about participating in Vic's Holosuite program, set in the 1950s. To which Kasidy replies: "Going to Vic's won't make us forget who we are or where we came from. It reminds us that we are no longer bound by any limitations. Except the ones we impose on ourselves."

Yeah, I think we can thank Mr. Brooks for injecting stuff like this into Trek.

Also I think of Patrick Stewart. He has been a prominent and vocal advocate against domestic violence. Well, I can let the man speak for himself: youtu.be

Maybe I'm getting too far off topic, but everyone should hear her tell this story: youtu.be

Patrick Stewart talking about domestic violence is a great example, and I hadn't even really thought about how the show had a lot of this already embedded into it.

That's one of the things that really brought me into Star Trek to begin with. The fact that every episode of the Original series had some kind of moral embedded into it.

I also believe that LeVar Burton has also been a part of the NOH8 campaign. ontopmag.com

I wanted to ask him what the possibilities of getting more of the cast members involved in it.