Huffingtonpost written by T. Thompson

To boldly go where no man has gone before in California. 

"It feels glorious," said Takei, who played Sulu on "Star Trek," holding his marriage license.

"I am the happiest guy in the world," Altman said. "I get to be married to George Takei."

Dressed in suits and ties, the couple plan to be married in September at the Japanese-American Museum in downtown Los Angeles, forgoing what is to be a day of weddings at West Hollywood Park underneath a collection of white tents.

"Now it has meaning," Takei explained to reporters. "We are going to be legitimately married in California."

Altman couldn't resist a sound byte: "I am extremely optimistic that George and my marriage will live on and prosper far beyond November."

They were all smiles and obviously joyous. But they weren't jumping for joy. They were well-prepared for the media glare, ready to become celebrity spokesmen for gay unions, at least for today. Every time Takei talked, I was reminded of Sulu, signaling, in a calm and collected, non-emotive voice, some kind of danger to Captain Kirk.

In that same tone, Takei took note of the protesters, one dressed like a devil, saying that "they need to equally respect the diversity in California."

"If they want respect, they have to be respectful, and they are being disrespectful," he said, although acknowledging they still had a right to be there.

"They cannot put their personal religious beliefs on us and write it into law."

"There is nothing extraordinary," Takei said. "We are just like John and Mary. We are just part of the diversity of America."