NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – “Star Trek” actor and LGBT rights activist George Takei—who played Lieutenant Sulu on the iconic 1960s television series— rode in the official Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) car this weekend during New York City’s 43rd Annual LGBT Pride March in New York City, a vehicle driven by Ohio mom and former Boy Scout leader Jennifer Tyrrell, who was ousted as a Scout leader because she is gay.

“I’m saddened and shocked by the policy the Boy Scouts have,” said Takei, 75, who is openly gay. Tyrrell and Takei, each be accompanied by their respective spouses, donned matching Boy Scout uniforms to protest Tyrrell’s removal as leader for her 7-year-old son’s Boy Scout troop in Bridgeport, Ohio.

In April, Scouting officials asked her to step down as Scout leader, because her sexual orientation “did not meet the high standards” of conduct of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).

After being forced to resign, Tyrrell’s son, Cruz, was deactivated from his Scout troop. In true Scout fashion, the mother of four was prepared, and launched a Change.org petition that has netted over 300,000 signatures, as well as the support of A-Listers like actors Julianne Moore, Benecio Del Toro, Josh Hutcherson of “The Hunger Games,” Diana Agron of “Glee,” and singer Ricky Martin.

“She personifies all the best qualities of scouting,” said Takei of Tyrrell.

Kirk Cameron, the star of the hit sitcom “Growing Pains,” told CNN host Piers Morgan last week that he believes homosexuality to be “unnatural,” adding “I think that it’s detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization (Florida Agenda, March 8). Appearing on the March 2 broadcast of “Piers Morgan Tonight,” Cameron, 41, described himself as a “teen-idol-atheist in Hollywood” who “became a devoted follower of Jesus Christ.”

The reaction to Cameron’s comments was quick and full of outrage. Former “Growing Pains” cast member Tracey Gold said, “I do think it’s dangerous.” Gold, who will be a presenter at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards on March 24 in New York City, added “I immediately thought of the teenager who’s struggling with his sexuality and hearing those comments that are so damaging and hurtful.

TV star Roseanne Barr tweeted “Kirk or Kurt or whatever Cameron is an accomplice to murder with his hate speech.” Responding to the controversy via email, Cameron told ABCNews.com. “I spoke as honestly as I could, but some people believe my responses were not loving toward those in the gay community. That is not true. I can assuredly say that it’s my life’s mission to love all people.”

In response to Cameron’s comments, GLAAD launched a petition called “Tell Kirk Cameron It’s Time to Finally Grow Up.” And the organization’s spokesman, Herndon Graddick, had this to say about Cameron’s clarification: “Saying that gay people are ‘detrimental to civilization’ might be ‘loving’ in Kirk Cameron’s mind, but it’s gay youth and victims of bullying who truly suffer from adults like Cameron who espouse these ideas.”

The 80s pinup boy-turned-poster boy for the Religious Right lost interest in the hit ABC series toward the end of its run in 1992. In a November 2000 interview, his “Growing Pains” cast mate, Tracey Gold, told the Los Angeles Times: “At the end, Kirk had drifted away from the show.

When he got married during a summer hiatus up in New York, none of us were invited. He had pretty much made it clear he needed his separation from us.” In the March 2 interview on “Piers Morgan Tonight,” Cameron said, “Marriage was defined by God a long time ago. Marriage is almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve–one man, one woman for life till death do you part. So I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage. And I don’t think anyone else should either.”

“Do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don’t,” added Cameron, whose conversion to Christianity occurred during his time in the cast of the hit series. Following that conversion, the still-teenaged Cameron began to insist that “Growing Pains” storylines which he deemed too racy or adult in theme be watered down of offending content.

During the March 2 broadcast, Morgan asked the former child star to comment on a hypothetical situation: what if one of the actor-turned-evangelist’s six children came out to him? “Dad, bad news, I’m gay,” the host offered by way of scenario.

“I’d sit down and I’d have a heart to heart with them, just like you’d do with your kids,” Cameron replied. Retorted Morgan: “I’d say, ‘that’s great, son, as long as you’re happy.’ What would you say?”

“I wouldn’t say ‘that’s great, son, as long as you’re happy,’” answered Cameron. “Just because you feel one way doesn’t mean we should act on everything we feel.”

Singer and actress Kristen Chenoweth says there isn’t anything contradictory about her strong Christian faith and her support for LGBT rights.

Last September, the Tony Awardwinning actress, 43, told CNN’s Piers Morgan “I don’t think the gay issue is a political one, but I do think it’s a civil rights issue,” adding that “people who love each other should be allowed to be married.”

Contrary to the beliefs of many Christians, the star of ABC television’s new comedy “GCB” does not believe that homosexuality is a choice. “If it was a sin to be short, what would I do? Well I’d be right on the hell bus,” Chenoweth, who stands 4’11”, explained. “I don’t believe God makes mistakes, and that includes a person’s sexuality.”

Chenoweth’s new series, based upon the book “Good Christian Bitches” by Kim Gatlin, includes a developing storyline about a churchgoing couple in which the husband is a closeted gay man.

“I’d say go to church and take a look around the room and see if you see any women who might be married to a man who might be gay,” the former star of the Broadway show “Wicked” told ABC News. “I’d say be very careful of judging someone who’s in marriage who is gay because they don’t want to be told they’re going to hell. I think that happens and I think it’s horrible.”

Chenoweth confesses to being perplexed about the homophobia she sees all around her, particularly among observant Christians (see Kirk Cameron story, above).

“Even as a young child, I thought, ‘Why is being gay bad?’ I didn’t understand it. So I asked my grandma, who is the best Christian I ever knew. I’d say, ‘what about my friend Denny: he’s gay, is he going to hell?’ She told me, ‘I read the Bible like I eat fish. I take the meat that serves me well but I don’t choke on the bone.’”

Actor and activist George Takei, who once led audiences “where no man has gone before” on television’s “Star Trek,” wants to trade upon some of his star power to help Donald Trump make the “switch” in support of marriage equality.

The Los Angeles-born Takei, 74, played the role of Lt. Sulu on NBC’s classic science fiction program–which ran from 1966 to 1969, and since then almost continuously in syndication—and is currently seen on the network’s “Celebrity Apprentice,” which stars Trump, the billionaire real estate tycoon and sometime-candidate for U.S. President

The actor has been active in politics since 1972, when he served as an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention, held that year in Miami Beach. In 2008, he married his longtime partner, Brad Altman.

Last week, during a “Celebrity Apprentice” press event for reporters, Takei offered to take Trump to lunch to air out their differences concerning gay marriage.

“Next time I’m in New York, Mr. Trump, I might take you to ‘Jean Georges’ [restaurant] for lunch, and maybe we can discuss marriage equality,” Takei told Trump, 56, who last year compared legalizing same-sex marriage to using a new kind of golf putter during golf.

“A lot of people–I don’t want this to sound trivial–but a lot of people are switching to these really long putters, very unattractive. It’s weird. You see these great players with these really long putters, because they can’t sink threefooters anymore,” Trump bizarrely told the New York Times, then added, “I have so many fabulous friends who happen to be gay, but I am a traditionalist.”

To Takei’s request, Trump was more direct: “You would be the perfect guy to teach me. You have a deal.” “I’m looking forward to the lunch,” Takei said later. “I think Mr. Trump is a decent, fair-minded guy, and I think we can have a very good discussion. I want to listen to his views and respond specifically to his concerns. The sense I get in my bones is that he’s a decent, sophisticated guy. I’m sure he knows many.

The two openly gay celebrities join Adam Carolla, Debbie Gibson, Arsenio Hall, Cheryl Tiegs, Dee Snider, Therese Guidice in the reality competition program starring Donald Trump.