TV Actor Kirk Cameron's Book Sparks Battle Between Christian Right & LGBTQ+ Community in Providence

TV Actor Kirk Cameron's Book Sparks Battle Between Christian Right & LGBTQ+ Community in Providence

The battle between the Christian right and the LGBTQ+ community is coming to a library near you, and if you live on Providence's East Side -- the conflict is here.

The new spark comes from former child-TV star Kirk Cameron -- the star of Growing Pains, the ABC sitcom in the 1980s and early 1990s

Cameron’s new Christian-themed book has reportedly been rejected for story hours at numerous public libraries across the country, including at the Rochambeau branch of the Community Libraries of Providence.

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Brave Books, Cameron's publisher, shared details of the story-hour requests — and the rejections received to date — with Fox News and claimed Rochambeau Branch was featured first to reject Cameron. 

The Advocate reports, "Right-wing Christian actor and author Kirk Cameron is painting himself as a victim, with help from his allies at Fox News, because libraries aren’t interested in hosting him for a reading of his new children’s book, As You Grow."

 

According to the report by Fox: 

The Rochambeau Public Library in Providence, Rhode Island, for instance, told Cameron and his book publisher by phone, "No, we will pass on having you run a program in our space."

​“We are a very queer-friendly library. Our messaging does not align,” a worker at Rochambeau told Brave Books.

When the publisher asked the library official about filling out the proper form to apply for a story-hour slot, the individual replied, "You can fill out the form to reserve space, to run the program in our space — but we won’t run your program." 

On its website, Rochambeau Public Library promotes a regular offering for young people called "Queer Umbrella." 

Brave Books — which bills itself as the “antidote to work culture lies” — has also featured books by Rhode Island native and former United States Army General Michael Flynn.

The Community Libraries of Providence refused multiple requests for comment -- but did publish the following to social media. 

Our Response to Kirk Cameron & Brave Books Media Articles

On December 7, one of our libraries, Rochambeau, was mentioned in a Fox News Digital article, which referenced Kirk Cameron and Brave Books. Brave Books mentioned no particular author or book in their call.  

We receive many unsolicited requests from individuals groups to co-host events, which we are always happy to consider. In the vast majority of cases, they do not result in partnership. Typically, as with Brave Books, we suggest that the inquirer considers holding their own event in a bookable meeting room space.

Our libraries are free civic spaces, and our meeting rooms are available free of charge to the public. We provide space for many types of groups, including religious organizations. Prior to the COVID pandemic, we hosted around 700 privately booked events a year, and numbers are gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels.  All applicants for meeting space must comply with our meeting room policy. Brave Books is free to request a meeting room space to hold an event at one of our libraries, should it wish to do so.

FOR SOCIAL MEDIA

Communicating with us: 

Our social media pages are an extension of our library spaces. People may express both positive and negative opinions on our pages, providing they do so in a polite and civil manner. They may also contact us at [email protected]. However, please note, if comments are abusive, threatening or offensive, they may be deleted.

First published 12/9/2022 6:44 AM

Updated 12/9/2022 12/9/2022 10:03 AM