George Takei

George Hosato Takei (born 1937-04-20) is an American actor of Japanese decent. He is best known for playing the role of Mr. Sulu on the television series Star Trek.

Sourced

• I've been working with Bill Shatner yea these 40-plus years. He never seems to get it right. I gave him, "It's Takei, as in way." I even said, "as in gay"... I told him, "It's Takei, rhymes with toupee." I thought that would do it.
  • Quoted in Doug Elfman, "Takei celebrates legacy of diversity," Las Vegas Review-Journal (2008-08-12)
  • Describing how he advised William Shatner, who reportedly could never pronounce his name correctly, how to say it aloud.

• The so-called "don't say gay" law is premised on the misguided belief that, by not talking about gay people, they can simply make us disappear. I am here to tell Tennessee and all LGBT youth and teachers who would be affected by this law, that I am here for you. In fact, I am lending my name to the cause. Any time you need to say the word "gay", you can simply say "Takei". For example, you could safely proclaim you are a supporter of Takei marriage. If you're in a more festive mood, you can march in a Takei pride parade. Even homophobic slurs don't seem as hurtful if someone says, "That is soooo Takei."
  • George Takei vs. Tennessee's "Don't Say Gay" Bill, YouTube, 19 May 2011, retrieved on 2011-05-20 
  • Regarding the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee passing state senator Stacey Campfield's bill SB49, which bans mentioning homosexuality in public schools prior to ninth grade