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Actor Kirk Cameron, known once for his role as the popular troublemaker Mike Seaver on "Growing Pains" and now more for his devout Christianity, says he's had to endure "hate speech" since expressing his moral opposition to homosexuality during a recent TV interview.
Cameron told CNN's Piers Morgan last week that he believes homosexuality is “unnatural,” “detrimental,” and “ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization."
In response, former co-stars Alan Thicke and Tracey Gold went on Twitter to share messages in support of acceptance of same-sex relationships.
The 41-year-old actor and evangelist also has strong feelings against same-sex marriage. While the "Growing Pains" theme might have been about getting through so long as couples had each other, for Cameron, that means only couples comprised of a man and woman: "I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage. And I don't think anyone else should either," he told Morgan on the subject of legalized same-sex marriage.
Cameron's message after the fact is a bit mixed, though, especially as he deals with the public reaction, both for and against, his statements on CNN. In an email to ABC News, Cameron said: “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 adds:
“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.”
Oh, and he made room for the ol' "I've got gay friends" bit, too: “I believe we need to learn how to debate these things with greater love and respect,” and added, “I’ve been encouraged by the support of many friends (including gay friends, incidentally).”
But the organization Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) aren't eager to gladly take Cameron's remarks as being fueled by good Christian love. They released a statement in response to 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.”
Several people, however, took to social media spaces like Twitter to speak up in support of Cameron.
