George Takei

George Hosato Takei (born April 20, 1937) 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