Kirk Cameron's Anti-Gay Comments Draw Criticism, Praise

As discussed in an earlier post, Kirk Cameron called homosexuality “unnatural” and “detrimental” to civilization during a March 2nd interview on Piers Morgan Tonight. Cameron’s anti-gay comments have created an uproar, earning him condemnation from pro-LGBT voices.

Cameron stands by his statements. ABC News reports that in an e-mail statement, Cameron said that he should be able to talk about his moral views in the public square.

"... especially those that have been the underpinning of Western civilization for 2,000 years — without being slandered, accused of hate speech, and told from those who preach ‘tolerance’ that I need to either bend my beliefs to their moral standards or be silent when I’m in the public square.”

Cameron added that it is his "life's mission to love all people" and that people should be able to debate matters with "greater love and respect."

That’s rich, Kirk. The man who called homosexuality “destructive” to the foundations of civilization is calling for “love and respect.” To boot, he called the understandable anger coming from the LGBT community and its allies as a demand to “bend” his beliefs “to their moral standard.” I’m sorry, but I don’t see how homophobia is compatible with loving all people.

Some public figures have defended Cameron, including actor Stephen Baldwin who tweeted "GREAT JOB Kirk!" at his Twitter account, according to the Advocate. Several right-wing commentators, including the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer, defended Cameron, as documented at Right Wing Watch. For example, during a recent edition of Focal Point, Fischer praised Cameron for standing his ground, ridiculing Piers Morgan as an "anti-Christian, anti-morality bigot."

Think Progress reports that Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann appeared on the March 5th edition of Piers Morgan Tonight, where she said that Cameron is “getting trashed right now.” Not surprisingly, she claimed that people who “stand on sincerely held religious beliefs” have been demonized.

“I would like to see the lack of demonization for those of us who stand on sincerely held religious beliefs. It’s overtime. That’s where you see the demonization of people who stand on their beliefs.”

Other celebrities think otherwise. Tracy Gold, a fellow Growing Pains alumna, posted a message on Twitter celebrating LGBT equality according to the Baltimore Sun. ABC News reports that another Growing Pains co-star, Alan Thicke, tweeted that he would get Cameron some new books because "The Old Testament simply can't be expected to explain everything."

The Advocate reports that two Roseanne actresses publicly condemned Cameron's words. On the March 6th edition of CBS's The Talk, former Roseanne actress Sara Gilbert worried that Cameron's remarks could have a detrimental impact on LGBT youth. Gilbert said that Cameron needs to think about LGBT youth suicide rates and "who you are hurting." Also, former Roseanne star Roseanne Barr went on Twitter and accused Cameron of being "an accomplice to murder with his hate speech. so is Rick Warren. Their peers r killing gays in Uganda."

Many thanks to those who have called out Cameron's anti-gay comments and who continue the struggle for LGBT equality. While people such as Cameron have the right to speak freely in the public square, we also have the right to promote equality.