Actor George Takei, who is best known
for his role as Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek,
has criticized passage of an anti-gay bill in Arizona.
The measure, which
states that individuals and businesses can refuse service based on
their religious beliefs, cleared the Senate on Wednesday and the
House the following day. Calling the measure “controversial,”
Republican Governor Jan Brewer said she will decide whether to sign
the bill next week.
(Related:
Hundreds
rally against Arizona bill allowing businesses to discriminate
against gays.)
In
a blog post titled Razing
Arizona, Takei called for a
boycott of the state if Brewer signs the bill into law.
“This 'turn away
the gay' bill enshrines discrimination into the law,” Takei, who is gay, wrote.
“Your taxi drivers can refuse to carry us. Your hotels can refuse
to house us. And your restaurants can refuse to serve us.”
Arizona “you're
willing to ostracize and marginalize LGBT people to score political
points with the extreme right of the Republican Party. You say this
bill protects 'religious freedom,' but no one is fooled. When I was
younger, people used 'God's will' as a reason to keep the races
separate, too. Make no mistake, this is the new segregation, yours is
a Jim Crow law, and you are about to make yourself ground zero.”
“If your Governor
Jan Brewer signs this repugnant bill into law, make no mistake. We
will not come. We will not spend. And we will urge everyone we know
– from large corporations to small families on vacation – to
boycott. Because you don't deserve our dollars. Not one red cent.”
“So if our
appeals to equality, fairness and our basic right to live in a civil
society without doors being slammed in our face for being who we are
don't move you, I'll bet a big hit to your pocketbook and state
coffers will.”