Kirk Cameron defends his anti-gay comments against Hollywood shitstorm

by Craig Takeuchi on Mar 6, 2012 at 10:39 am

Whachu talkin' 'bout, Mike Seaver?

Because not only are your dad and sister ready to kick your ass, but so are a ton of stars from the screen and stage. Not to mention Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx.

If you're just tuning in, '80s star Kirk Cameron stirred up a shitstorm when he let his ignorance about sexuality be known.

Cameron, a 41-year-old born-again Christian who rose to fame on the sitcom Growing Pains, told CNN's Piers Morgan on March 2 that he thinks being gay is "detrimental", "unnatural", and "ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization". He said that marriage was defined by God as between one man and one woman, citing Adam and Eve, and therefore he could not support gay marriage.

He has six children. He said if any of his children came out, he would have to explain to him or her that "Just because you feel one way doesn't mean we should act on everything we feel."

Several Hollywood and music stars voiced their opposition to Cameron's comments in interviews, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Kristin Chenoweth, Latoya Jackson, Sara Gilbert, and the hosts of The Talk.

And many more took to Twitter. Among them were Cameron's former Growing Pains costars Tracey Gold (who played his sister), who also changed her Twitter picture to a NO H8 campaign photo, and Alan Thicke (who played his father), who has been retweeting messages of support for equality.

Here's just a sample:

  • Roseanne Barr: "kirk or kurt or whatever cameron is an accomplice to murder with his hate speech. so is rick warren. their peers r killing gays in uganda."
  • Zach Braff: "If Kirk Cameron hates gay people, why was he best friends with Boner?"
  • Josh Charles: "I know Growing Pains was only a tv show, but I have to think both Alan Thicke & Joanna Kerns must feel they failed as parents tonight."
  • Sarah Colonna: "Big thanks to Kirk Cameron for reminding me to donate to @glaad today. P.S. Bigotry excused by religion-still bigotry. glaad.org/blog"
  • Billy Eichner: "So great to hear what Kirk Cameron thinks about gay people. Anybody know where Tina Yothers stands on the death penalty?"
  • Craig Ferguson: "Rush makes me ashamed to be a middleaged white man and Kirk Cameron makes me ashamed to be a failed actor. We don't all think like that NoH8"
  • Jesse Tyler Ferguson: "The only unnatural thing about me being gay is that I had a crush on Kirk Cameron until about 24 hours ago."
  • Tracey Gold: "I am a strong supporter of the #LGBT Community, and I believe in equal rights for all. #NOH8 #LOVE"
  • Jordan Knight: "Ted Haggard vehemently opposed gays as well. Wonder why? He couldn't accept himself...... in my opinion. #justsayin"
  • Debra Messing: "i want to thank Piers Morgan for his response to what he wud say to HIS child if (s)he came out: "Great, as long as you're happy"—"
  • Martha Plimpton: "The word "Equality" shows up too much in our founding documents for anyone to pretend it's not the American way. #usethe19th #equalitynow"
  • Alan Thicke: I'll address kirk's comments as soon as I recover from rush limbaugh's."
    "I'm getting him some new books. The Old Testament simply can't be expected to explain everything."
  • Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue): "Kirk Cameron,asshole of the week."
    "I get the"Freedom of speech" tweets from you guys.:) I just have a really hard time excepting people bashing gay marriage.Love Is Love."

But alas, Cameron won't back down. Or shut up.

He sent a statement to ABC News:

“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.”

“I should be able to express moral views on social issues, 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).”

Could one of his so-called "friends" be Stephen Baldwin?

Baldwin (who, ironically, starred in the 1994 film Threesome about a MMF coupling) was one of the only stars who spoke out in support of Cameron. Baldwin appeared on Showbiz Now, in a debate about Cameron's comments. George Takei, an out gay actor and activist, countered Baldwin's arguments.

Although Piers Morgan made his views on the issues clear in his interview with Cameron, he also said that Cameron's remarks were "pretty brave".

The day after his remarks, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation launched a petition called Tell Kirk Cameron It's Time to Finally Grow Up.

It'll be interesting to see how many "friends" Cameron has left after the dust settles.

You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at twitter.com/cinecraig. You can also follow the Straight's LGBT coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/StraightLGBT.

Comments (39) Add New Comment
BIll
Mar 6, 2012 at 11:43 am
There are heavy rumors circulating that's he's closet gay and this all but confirms it. The venomous anti gay public comment is the number one indicator of celebrity gayness.
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out at night
Mar 6, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Kirk, you are "unnatural", "detrimental" and "ultimately destructive", but I still love you. Hmmm, I dunno, maybe that last bit comes off a bit disengenuous, huh?
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James S
Mar 6, 2012 at 12:49 pm
I don't really think that cameron really thought through what he said. I believe that his intent was good and that overall, what he said was true. Missing tact....Yes. Require an apology or inaccurate....No. I believe that acting on any temptation is wrong . . . equally wrong. My lies and judgements on others makes me every bit as 'wrong' as any other act. All this only proves that I am in great need of a saviour.... as we all are. My job now, since accepting that fact and accept Jesus Christ as that much needed saviour, is to show this world Christ great love for them, To live my life in relationship with a God who loves me and want relationship with me, to allow His healing power to penatrate my heart and to live life lead by God.
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Bradm
Mar 6, 2012 at 12:58 pm
“I believe we need to learn how to debate these things with greater love and respect."
“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.”
he thinks being gay is "detrimental", "unnatural", and "ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization".
These are words spoken from a loving place???? Good thing he is speaking from a loving place...I have to question his idea of Love!
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Elke
Mar 6, 2012 at 1:09 pm
To me, do we have a society that allows free speech, or is someone saying what they think vilified? Think about that, everyone. Sometimes it is like we are living in backwards land, where every value that we used to have is standing on its head. It might just take people a while to catch up! Leave the poor guy alone!
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ROOZLE
Mar 6, 2012 at 1:20 pm
What are Kirk's views about Marriage, Slaves and Concubines, cause the bible has opinions at that too.
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Fundies come in all political stripes
Mar 6, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Kirk is obviously wrong on gay rights and marriage rights.

However, he's right about his freedom to / right to express his moral beliefs - even if they're considered odious by leftists.

Discourse makes democracy.
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real freedom?
Mar 6, 2012 at 2:09 pm
The issue isn't imo whether he has a right to his beliefs and a right to air them publicly, it's that he and his cohorts want their personal religious beliefs to the secular law for everyone. What's 'free' about that?

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DavidH
Mar 6, 2012 at 2:15 pm
At 41, it's kinda silly (and disturbing) to still be suffering "Growing Pains".

Kirk is definitely entitled to his opinion ...but how many "average" gay people get to express their opinions on CNN in prime time?
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Duane Burnett
Mar 6, 2012 at 3:42 pm
I got a shit storm of comments on Piers Morgan's fb page when I said I didn't think Kirk was fit to be a parent with his homophobic views. Maybe I was too harsh, but if you are going to have children, chances are some of them are going to be gay. That's Life! Don't hate 'em, its tough enough for them :D https://www.facebook.com/PiersTonight/posts/404098352939488
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I miss Larry King
Mar 6, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Why did Piers Morgan even ask that question? It was clearly brought up to cause controversy. "Hey Piers, our ratings are dropping, what should we do?" "Hmm, I got it! Let's go get a publicly devout christian actor and ask him something about homosexuality, even though, we clearly know what he's going to say/think, but we'll have everyone watching these youtube clips for weeks, that should get us pass this dry spell!"

Shame on Cameron for saying it, he should have just said no comment, but guess what, he is entitled to his own opinion. Do I agree with him? Hell no. But i'm not going to jump on the "let's kill the narrow minded christian bandwagon" and neither should everyone else.
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KJ
Mar 6, 2012 at 4:03 pm
It's really hard to take anyone seriously who believes there's a magic invisible man in the sky.
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R2
Mar 6, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Zack Kassian needs to give washed up born again Kooky Kirk a season ending hit into the boards....then go after his guru Paul Comfort
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Gene Logan
Mar 6, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Chump changed.
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Old News
Mar 6, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Didn't everyone already know that Kirk Cameron was an ignorant born again?
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Gail Carver
Mar 6, 2012 at 9:03 pm
I am one who believes that Jesus loves everyone no matter what. I find it hard to believe that everyone here is so quick to crucify Kurt for his beliefs while you all have fought hard to be able to say what you believe. You are the biggest hypocrites of all! Why is there so much hatred in this world? Everyone is different and everyone is entitled to their opinion, if we all believed the same thing we would be quite robotic wouldn't we? Just sayin.....
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Jesus was gay.
Mar 6, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Just sayin...
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Morty
Mar 6, 2012 at 10:52 pm
"I should be able to express moral views on social issues, 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."

Actually, that's the cost of free speech. When you say something that is wrong or abhorrent, you will be called on it—even if you think it's somehow "moral". That's not slander; that's other people exercising their rights. If you don't want to be called out for being a bigot, then yes, you can either bend your beliefs to ones more morally acceptable or be silent. The choice is yours.
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jansumi
Mar 7, 2012 at 12:07 am
I didn't watch the interview. During a commercial elsewhere i clicked over for a millisecond just to see who was on, but before i surfed away again i caught a look at Piers face and thought, 'omg, i have never seen him so angry.' I knew i'd be hearing some fall-out to come... So - why was Kirk on the show to begin with?
(I definitely do Not miss Larry King...)
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Matt T
Mar 7, 2012 at 8:02 am
People have a real odd idea about the right to free speech.

It does not equate to "freedom from criticism of that speech".

No one prevented Jerk Cameron from saying what he wanted to say, and no one can prevent others from exercising their right to criticize that speech.

How ignorant do you have to be to argue that the right to free speech equates to "I get to say what I want in public and no one can criticize what I say".

If you dont want to hear people to react to your comments, dont make them in public.

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