Combining Star Trek and Sexuality Rights? Yes, Please!

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George Takei, one of my favorite Star Trek actors, is coming out against a new Tennessee bill. The “Don’t Say Gay” bill, as it’s known, aims to make it illegal for elementary- and middle-school teachers to discuss homosexuality in the classroom. Takei, who is himself openly gay, has been a vocal and entertaining advocate for LGBT rights, and his latest efforts are no exception. As part of his campaign against this homophobic bill, he’s offering the use of his name in place of the word “gay” (since it rhymes, of course). You can even buy “It’s OK to be Takei” merchandise, complete with rainbow Star Trek communicator logo. All profits from merchandise sales will go to charity.

Watch the video here.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, since Takei’s post, the “Don’t Say Gay” bill has passed in the state of Tennessee, making it against the law for the affected teachers to acknowledge homosexuality in any way in classroom discussion. We hope that others will join Takei in challenging the wisdom and ethical acceptability of this legal decision.

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About Kate McCombs

Kate McCombs

Kate McCombs is a sex educator, blogger, and speaker, specializing in sex-positive and pleasure-inclusive approaches to sexual health promotion. She's originally from California, but moved to Australia to get her Masters in Public Health at the University of Melbourne, which she completed in 2011. In addition to facilitating workshops, Kate works as a teaching/research assistant and guest lecturer for the School of Population Health at the University of Melbourne. She's also the founder of sexgeekdom.com, a website designed to bridge the gap between online and real-life community for sex educators, researchers, and others who might identify as sex geeks.

  • http://twitter.com/foxyfolklorist Jeana Jorgensen

    What?! That bill passed?! Ugh… I feel a little sick. Censoring any facet of life in the classroom is just a terrible idea on principle, but “let’s not discuss an oppressed minority, despite their prominence in literature and history and OH as human beings ever” is heart-rending.

  • http://badassbard.blogspot.com Thomas

    I do love George Takei.

    There was a book by Gore Vidal, I forget the name, in which he uses the names of Supreme Court Justices in lieu of curse words and vulgar names for the anatomy. Pure genius, I say. 

  • odat

    Well, it passed in the Senate, but the legislation in the TN House isn’t even out of committee, and they probably won’t bring it up in 2012.

    So it’s not a law.  Yet.

    Still a symbolic terrible move, though.

  • Darius

    Doubt it would work to take this to the “Supremes”  given how little the 1st seems to matter regarding anything where “children is present these days”,   but this seriously needs a constitutional challenge if the penalties aren’t too much for a teacher somewhere to violate it intentionally and if they can afford the legal costs.