George Takei: Are You Afraid of PDA?

A scene from the documentary 'To Be Takei.' Courtesy: Starz Digital Media

Out100 honoree George Takei is using Upworthy to call for some long overdue cultural change: "Let's 'kick the ick' out of our public discourse," he writes.

"I've spoken often about the 'ick' factor -- the visceral reaction many have to the sight of something unfamiliar, like two men kissing," writes Takei, who is a guest curator for the viral phenom website. "When I was growing up, the reaction toward interracial couples was similar, and that disgust over white/non-white intimacy was used to justify laws against interracial marriage. Many use their irrational discomfort over gay intimacy to justify discrimination."

Takei was profiled this weekend on the front page of the New York Times Style section about his growing gay advocacy in preparation for the August release of the documentary, To Be Takei. Takei also shared an ABC News report from last month that he said should serve as a personal test: "Do I have a bit of the 'ick' in me?"