Former Growing Pains star and evangelist Kirk Cameron is responding to backlash he received in wake of his anti-gay, anti-lesbian remarks of homosexuality being “unnatural” and “ultimately destructive” following his interview with Piers Morgan Friday. The fallen TV idol issued a written statement to ABC News in which he says it’s his mission to love all people and that he should not be accused of hate speech.
“I should be able to express moral views on social issues,” Cameron said. “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.”
“I believe we need to learn how to debate these things with greater love and respect… I’ve been encouraged by the support of many friends (including gay friends, incidentally).”
He added, ““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.”
Cameron’s explanation follows the anti-gay comments he made on Piers Morgan Tonight where the teen actor said, “Do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don’t… I think that it’s unnatural, it’s detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.”
GLAAD has petitioned the actor to apologize for his anti-gay remarks although no formal apology has yet been issued from Cameron.
“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,” said Herndon Graddick, GLAAD’s Senior Director of Programs and Communications. “Cameron used his platform to attack gay Americans and is now attempting to play victim in an effort to sell his upcoming movie. That Cameron would risk the health and safety of young people in order to do so speaks for itself.”
Growing Pains co-stars Alan Thicke and Tracey Gold including peers Kristin Chenoweth, Graig Ferguson, Debra Messing and Jamie Lee Curtis have spoken out against Cameron on Twitter and other social networks.
Graddick added, “So many Americans, popular celebrities and Christian leaders have stood up and said his views are out of touch. The fundamental dignity of gay people should no longer be a debate in this country. Obviously, Cameron has the right to recite his anti-gay talking points, just like fair-minded Americans have the right to tell him that his views are harmful and have no place in modern America.”
Kirk Cameron is full of crap. Most born again Christians are hypocrites. Isn’t it funny how they preach hate and bastardized the bible to give permission to hate and other parts ignore. If there is a hell there are plenty of spaces reserved for him and Pat Robertson. Don’t preach hate or bad mouth gay and lesbians for something you know. Itching about. To those pea size brains of theirs if they were educated they would know the animal kingdom has a sect of homosexuals among them. You can never make me believe that God would ever condemn these loving creatures. There lives are messed up so they use religion to practice hate. Get a life. God loves and doesn’t hate his creations including gay and lesbians.