George Takei Is Getting A Lot Of Love For A Father’s Day Post About Never Becoming A Dad

Father’s Day 2021 was a big make-up for Father’s Day 2020, when the nation was at the height of the pandemic, forcing many to call off an annual visit. But as always, it was a big deal on social media. There were the usual posts of appreciation for dads, and the requisite posts of younger photos of hot fathers. (There was also a Ryan Reynolds-crafted cocktail.) The love also extended to father figures, for people who may have never sired any offspring but whose roles in people’s lives have been nonetheless parent-like.

One of those people is George Takei. The Star Trek alum has been married for about as long as California has allowed same-sex marriage — he and his husband, Brad Altman, were the first gay couple to apply for a marriage license in West Hollywood back in 2008 — but they’ve never had kids. And on the big holiday, Takei took to Twitter to lament that fact.

“One of my biggest regrets was never becoming a dad,” Takei wrote. “In my generation, coming of age in the 50s and 60s, it just wasn’t something very available to gay men, even those in couples. But I’m happy I could still be ‘Uncle George’ to so many.”

Takei received a lot of love for his post, with many pointing out that “Uncle Georges” are important, too.

Others wished him a happy Father’s Day.

https://twitter.com/rustillaloosr/status/1406671519112044544

https://twitter.com/Amara_deMachado/status/1406710199344324617

https://twitter.com/RetroGamer71/status/1406671642080645123

https://twitter.com/Cbo55/status/1406639725314600962

And some shot their shot and tried to get adopted by the erstwhile Sulu.

https://twitter.com/GarthDerby/status/1406657003351511041

So Happy Father’s Day to all, from George Takei to anyone else who’s been dad-esque.