Mr. Sulu is gay!

So, George Takei has come out. He has been with his male partner for 18 years. I guess that means the gay community is blessed with another role model, another public figure that demonstrates that we are everywhere, and we are no different than everyone else. Another figure for our “Famous LGBT Americans” list. Another keynoter for the LGBT speaker circuit.

Takei says the current social and political climate inspired him to speak out. Good for you, George Takei! Join the struggle. Stand up for your brothers and sisters.

But wait. Is Takei really a desirable role model? Should we immediately count him among the brave LGBT people who have furthered the cause of equality? Should GLAAD bestow an award on him? How brave was this act?

Where was he 20 years ago? AIDS attacked, and he sat in the closet. The struggle to end discrimination in the military erupted, and he sat in the closet. Anti-gay measures were passed all over the country, and he sat in the closet. Clinton signed marriage discrimination into law, and he sat in the closet. Matthew Shepard and hundreds of others were murdered here and around the world, and he sat in the closet.

Meanwhile, generations of brave LGBT individuals did come out, paving the way for a 68-year-old has-been actor to finally disclose his sexual orientation without fear that he will be fired, or his dad will kick the stuffing out of him, or his neighbor would vandalize his house, or a band of thugs would attack him walking down the sidewalk.

I am losing patience with public figures that only come out after they have made it or in the midst of some tawdry scandal. Having peaked as an actor in the mid-1960s, Takei could hardly argue that coming out would threaten his appeal in Hollywood. If he had come out in the 70s or 80s, he could have really made a difference.

The true role models are those who come out of their own volition, even when they might suffer negative consequences. In today’s United States, the way has already been paved by those far braver than George Takei. Amanda Bearse and Sandra Bernhard came out long before the words “lesbian” and “chic” ever made it into the same sentence. Comedian/actor Scott Thompson gets my respect. Rupert Everett, too. Portia de Rossi is on a hit show right now and just came out. Alec Mapa has always been out—I don’t think hiding it ever occurred to him.

Everyone has the right to come out or not come out on their own timeline and in their own way. But, let’s not put every Johnny-come-lately on a pedestal.

Welcome, Mr. Sulu. It's about friggin' time.