Cerritos College’s learning communities such as the Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee and Safe Zone teamed up to celebrate LGBTQ history month with the screening of “To Be Takei.”

The event took place in the Teleconference Center on Oct 10 at LC155.

The film covered many broad topics about George Takei’s life, including his experience in internment camps as a young Asian American during the 1940s.

Takei explained to the Washington post in an article on Nov. 16 that “The internment was a dark chapter of American history, in which 120,000 people, including me and my family, lost our homes, our livelihoods, and our freedoms because we happened to look like the people who bombed Pearl Harbor.”

He used his experience to educate others on such a horrible time in history.

Another topic the film talked about was about Takei’s struggles to overcome stereotypical roles for Asians in America.

Takei greatly impacted the Asian American community when he got a lead role on one of the biggest shows of the 1960s, “Star Trek.” Takei played Hikaru Sulu helmsman of the USS enterprise.

The movie addressed Takei realizing that he was different because he was gay and finally coming out publicly later in his life.

Takei came out in 2005 after he was already accomplished in his career because people were still bothered by homosexuality and he didn’t want that to affect his opportunities.

Takei became a great activist in the LGBTQ community, one of his many popular catchphrases was “it’s okay to be Takei.”

The coordinators of the event Ja’net Danielo and Erin Cole both agreed on showing this film because “Takei is a great example of a LGBTQ activist and the film speaks to a large audience because of all the things George Takei overcame throughout his life.”

Both Danielo and Cole are Safe Zone members and English faculty members for Cerritos College.

Cole explained she became a member of the Safe Zone group because she is “passionate about LGBTQ issues and this community creates a safe area on campus for anyone who is different. I wanted to be a part of a diverse community.”

Thirty students attended the event; some professors offered extra credit for their English classes and some students were just interested in the event. Most students that attended enjoyed the film and got a laugh at Takei’s witty humor.

Anthony Balderamos, computer science major said, “I was familiar with Takei’s face but I didn’t know about his life struggles. I enjoyed the film.”

He was glad his English professor offered extra credit for the event.

The event provided free water and popcorn provided by the Safe Zone community to students who attended the event.

Danielo explained that they will have another Popcorn and a movie event for Woman’s History Month in March.

She isn’t sure what movie they will use yet.