Kirk Cameron sparks Twitter firestorm after anti-gay remarks

Kirk Cameron speaks at the recent CPAC convention. Photo: Gage Skidmore

Kirk Cameron, the 80s television star best known for his role as Mike Seaver on Growing Pains, is facing backlash after anti-gay remarks.

Appearing on the Piers Morgan Tonight show on CNN, Cameron was asked about the issue of gay marriage. Not surprisingly, the born again and deeply religious Cameron has a problem with it, and homosexuality in general.

“I think that [homosexuality], it’s, it’s unnatural,” Cameron told Morgan. “I think that it’s, it’s detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.”

“Marriage is almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve,” Cameron added. “One man, one woman for life until death do you part… So do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don’t.”

As polls show that society is becoming more tolerant of homosexuality and open to the idea of gay marriage, especially amongst young people, Cameron immediately came under fire by critics, especially on Twitter:

@jg_from_nj: #KirkCameron says “homosexuality is unnatural.” Homosexuality occurs in over 450 species; homophobia only occurs in 1.

@thelovemaster: #KirkCameron spews hate re homosexuals. U think religious bigots do yur hair, makeup, clothes & scripts for yur LameAss?

@NiaVardalos: Dear #KirkCameron, with those eyebrows you’d sure be a purty drag queen

@ninjadixon: I really enjoy Kirk Cameron’s lack of career. Let it continue that way. #kirkcameron

@bretthamil: I’m mostly just mad at #kirkcameron for reminding me he still exists

The comedy website FunnyorDie.com also hopped on the bandwagon, trying to jump start a Kirk Cameron vs. Mike Seaver meme.

Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, took a dig at Cameron calling his views on homosexuality “even more dated than his 1980s TV character.”

Graddick added, “Cameron is out of step with a growing majority of Americans, particularly people of faith who believe that their gay and lesbian brothers and sisters should be loved and accepted based on their character and not condemned because of their sexual orientation.”

Piers Morgan, while he did admit Cameron’s views to be “antiquated,” did praise the former teen idol for sticking to his guns, saying that he thought it was “brave” that Cameron was “honest to what he believed.”