Humor may be the best medicine, but can it cure homophobia? George Takei seems to think so. Best known for his role as Mr. Sulu on Star Trek, Takei made a decision to respond to the homophobic remarks of retired NBA player, Tim Hardaway, back in 2007 using wit to provoke and educate rather than the usual, more serious responses to hate that we see every day. The story is not new (we covered it on Change.org last year), but Takei?s response is something that deserves further examination.
In case you?re not familiar, Tim Hardaway, retired NBA player, said in a live Miami sports radio show, "Well, you know I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States." The comments sparked a large debate and a good amount of backlash. He ended up apologizing (and as recent as this past February, mentioned in an interview on Sirius that he has worked with The Trevor Project and The YES Institute to educate himself on LGBT issues).
George Takei starts out in his segment on Jimmy Kimmel with a seemingly serious message, ?Recently, I?ve been troubled to hear comments by former NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway? As a human being, I was shocked and saddened, but I want you to know Tim, that on behalf of gay people everywhere, that despite your ugly words, we don?t hate you. As a matter of fact, we like you. We like you very much. We particularly like your large, powerful calves.? Takei goes on to make overtly flirtatious comments about Hardaway as he not-so-suggestively pets a background image of him, thereby turning on its head the very core of what frightens the ignorant; what if they try to recruit me?!
Though Hardaway?s homophobic remarks and Takei?s response happened three years ago, the story serves as an apt analogy for how we might consider fighting the good fight. How do we win hearts and minds (and legislation) most effectively? Is it by way of staging protests, writing petitions, or making funny videos? I?d argue that all of the above packaged together help to reach varying audiences and shift public opinion. If you can?t appeal to someone using hard evidence, by activating the compassion factor, or by straight-up schooling, humor may well be the best method.
I think if we could all learn to laugh a little more at our misgivings, stereotyping, and prejudices, we?d create a more open discourse around the more serious underlying tensions, which would, in turn, help to dismantle them.
Watch Takei?s response below.
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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