Activist protests Tenn. bill banning ‘gay’ in school with viral video

Tennessee lawmakers have already gone to great lengths to ban discussion of homosexuality in state classrooms--but can they go the extra mile to forbid mention of the actor who played Sulu on the classic sci-fi TV series "Star Trek"?

That's the challenge that George Takei--better known to legions of "Star Trek" fans as the helmsman for the Starship Enterprise-laid down in the wake of the Tennessee Senate's approval of a law prohibiting K-8 teachers from talking about homosexuality in class. (UPDATE: The House is unlikely to take up the bill until next year, the AP reports.) Takei, who is openly gay, has issued a statement that he will happily lend his own last name as a code term for homosexuality should the measure--which which opponents have termed the "Don't say gay" bill--be signed into law.

The bill's backers tweaked it to ban only discussion of homosexuality "in prepared materials and instruction," according to The Nashville Tennessean. Opponents had earlier criticized the bill for tying teachers' (and counselors') hands if a student asked him or her a question that touched on homosexuality. Teachers who violate the law could be prosecuted for a misdemeanor.

But the bill in its new limited scope seems a bit superfluous, since the state already prohibits teachers from instructing students on anything outside of Tennessee's family life sexual education curriculum, which emphasizes abstinence. (Parents can also opt not to have their children participate in sex ed instruction, and sex ed isn't required in schools.)

GOP Sen. Stacey Campfield, who has been pushing the bill for six years, says he wants to prevent teachers from inflicting their views on children, whether they are for or against gay rights.

Meanwhile, in his video announcement, Takei puckishly suggests that kids and teachers use "Takei" as a synonym for the forbidden term "gay."

"I'm lending my name to the cause," he says. "Any time you need to say the word 'gay' you can simply say 'Takei!' "

"You can march in a Takei pride parade. Even homophobic slurs don't seem as hurtful if someone says 'That's soooo Takei,'" he says, before assuring viewers "It's ok to be Takei." You can watch the video below:

(Takei: Paul Sakuma/AP)

CORRECTION: This article originally misstated Takei's role in Star Trek.

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