Tag: George Takei

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George Takei accepts Vito Russo Award at the 2014 GLAAD Media Awards in NYC

From George Takei’s speech accepting the Vito Russo Award at the 2014 GLAAD Media Awards in NYC:

“As long as LGBT people can be fired from their job for simply being who they are, our work isn’t done yet.

As long as young people are kicked out of their families just for being who they are, our work is not done yet.

As long as people are be bullied into feeling that their lives are so hopeless that they are driven to self-destructive acts, our work is not done.

Working in concert with GLAAD, with its history of achievement and the legacy of Vito Russo, we will make this a better world, a more equal society of all people.

I accept the GLAAD Vito Russo Award with pride, and with humility and with resolve.”

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George Takei pulls an “Ellen” at the GLAAD Media Awards

George Takei received the Vito Russo Award last night, which is named after one of GLAAD’s co-founders and the author of The Celluloid Closet.

The award is presented to an out media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equality.

Previous Vito Russo Award honorees include Anderson Cooper, Ricky Martin, Rosie O’Donnell, Alan Cumming, Cynthia Nixon, Nathan Lane, Cherry Jones, Elton John, k.d. lang, and Tom Ford.

The award was presented to Takei by Broadway director Stafford Arima who is directing Allegiance, a new Broadway musical starring Takei, Telly Leung, and Lea Salonga.

One degree of separation here – I’m staging a production of A Chorus Line with Stafford Arima next month in Sacramento 🙂

In his acceptance speech Takei said: “I am so glad to be with all you GLAAD people to receive this important recognition. The Vito Russo Award is charged with meaning and potency.

“In the twenty-five years since its founding, GLAAD has dramatically changed American society for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. I know, because as a closeted kid growing up in Los Angeles… all I saw of gays and lesbians in movies and television or heard on radio were caricatures of people who were mocked and laughed at, or pitied, or hated.

“The media stripped us of all humanity and made us into pathetic stereotypes. The media then was a soul-crushing monster.

“GLAAD took on this formidable beast with its media savvy, political acumen and the power of its advocacy and transformed the media into a powerful force for change. GLAAD inspired and galvanized others into action to join with in the great 21st century civil rights movement.”

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George Takei to be honored at 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in NYC

TV icon and LGBT advocate George Takei will be honored at the 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York at the Waldorf Astoria New York on May 3 where he will receive the Vito Russo Award, it was announced today.

Takei will receive GLAAD’s Vito Russo Award, which is presented to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equality. Previous Vito Russo honorees include Anderson Cooper, Ricky Martin, Rosie O’Donnell, Alan Cumming, Cynthia Nixon, Nathan Lane, Cherry Jones, Elton John, k.d. lang, and Tom Ford.

Over his career, the actor, advocate, social media star and author has remained one of the most outspoken LGBT voices in Hollywood. Since coming out in 2005, he has spoken out on issues including marriage equality, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), so-called “ex-gay therapy” and more. He has worked closely with GLAAD to bring equality to the Boy Scouts and supported GLAAD’s Spirit Day campaign to show support for LGBT youth and end anti-LGBT bullying. To Be Takei, a documentary about Takei’s life and career, premiered at Sundance in January and is scheduled for a theatrical release this summer.

In addition, international superstar Kylie Minogue will perform at the gala.

Minogue has been a longtime supporter of LGBT equality and has included images of LGBT people in her music videos, including for the song “All the Lovers.”

Minogue has performed at LGBT venues across the world, including London’s famed G-A-Y nightclub and New York City’s Splash Bar.

Additionally, Minogue has headlined LGBT pride events like the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras celebration.

Tickets are available now. Sign up to watch the red carpet live Saturday, May 3 at glaad.org/mediaawards.

(from GLAAD)

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Quote of the day: George Takei

George Takei writing on his Facebook page today about Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps:

“I take no solace or joy in this man’s passing.

“We will not dance upon his grave, nor stand vigil at his funeral holding ‘God Hates Freds’ signs, tempting as it may be. He was a tormented soul, who tormented so many.

“Hate never wins out in the end. It instead goes always to its lonely, dusty end.”

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George Takei on Utah’s governor: “He believes in governing by hysteria”

George Takei, whose always been fabulous, continues to be an outspoken voice of reason for the LGBT community. This time, he’s addressing the marriage equality hysteria in Utah and the state’s governor. From the Huffington Post:

“Gov. Herbert is consciously bringing harm to 2,600 citizens of Utah,” Takei, an outspoken advocate of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights, is quoted by The Salt Lake Tribune as saying. “That’s mean-spirited. He didn’t have to do that. Your governor is trying to put toothpaste back in the tube.”

The 76-year-old actor, who married longtime partner, Brad Altman, in 2008, didn’t stop at that. “I’m stunned by his stupidity,” he told Deadline. “Apparently he believes in governing by hysteria — that’s the only way it can interpreted.”

Takei is in Salt Lake City preparing for the Jan. 18 premiere of “To Be Takei” at the Sundance Film Festival.  You can watch a tease of the film below:

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New fragrance: “Eau My” by George Takei

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GS83884/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00GS83884&linkCode=as2&tag=onlinestorelink-20

Just in time for the holidays, George Takei releases his own signature fragrance – Eau My – a pun based on his signature catch phrase “Oh My!”

Takei is famous not only for his longtime role in the original Star Trek television series but has conquered social media as one of the most entertaining figures on Facebook and Twitter.

From CNET:

Takei teased fans, asking them to guess the name of the new fragrance. His Facebook followers offered up some real gems, including “Old Space,” “Takei Me Now,” and “Red Shirt.”

The cologne is described as having the following laundry list of smells: mandarin zest, Italian bergamot, fresh ozone, night-blooming jasmine, white freesia petals, sensual woods, crystallized amber, soft skin musk, and vetiver. This should help freshen up your tribbles.

Naturally, Eau My is available for preorder through Amazon, the site Takei often frequents to leave funny reviews of products ranging from yodeling pickles to the “Best of David Hasselhoff” CD.

Takei has also stepped to the forefront of LGBT rights as an openly gay celebrity speaking frequently on the issues important to the community.

Check out his new fragrance on Amazon – great gift this season for the Trekkie OR social media fan.

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George Takei: Russian Olympics is “situation of good vs evil”

Original Star Trek star and LGBT activist George Takei guested The Last Word to discuss with Lawrence O’Donnell the current issues involving LGBT athletes participating in the Sochi Olympics given the new anti-gay laws passed in Russia.

“This is a situation of good vs. evil,” said the 76-year-old married activist on The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell. “It is evil that is happening there, and we must not play into Putin’s game.”

Calling the antigay climate in Russia “a terrible situation,” Takei urged athletes, corporations, and everyday citizens to boycott the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, scheduled to take place in Sochi, Russia. Alternately, Takei suggested that the 2014 Olympics “must get out of Russia,” suggesting Vancouver, Canada, as a friendly location that already contains the infrastructure to support the Olympics, as it hosted the 2010 Winter Games.

“There are athletes that are gay or lesbian and their supporters are gay or lesbian too, and they are being put in danger and if something horrific happens — and it’s very likely given the kind of history of what’s been happening there — the responsibility is great,” said Takei. “The [International Olympic Committee] can move the Olympics out. There is enough time to do that yet… [But] the clock is ticking.”

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(via Advocate)

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George Takei: “Move the Olympics out of Russia”

“Last week, Russia’s Sports Minister confirmed that the country intends to enforce its laws against visiting LGBT athletes, trainers and fans, meaning anyone even so much as waving a rainbow flag (and I presume many men enthusiastically watching and dramatically commenting on figure skating) would be arrested, held for weeks and then deported.Given this position, the IOC must do the right thing, protect its athletes and the fans, and move the 2014 Winter Olympics out of Russia. [snip]

“Many believe that such a call to move the Olympics out of Russia goes too far. Would this be their opinion if the law instead called for the arrest of any Jews, Roman Catholics or Muslims should they display any sign of their religion, such as a wearing a yamaka or praying while facing Mecca? Discrimination in any form is a blight upon the Winter Games, and it must not be tolerated.” – George Takei