Kirk Cameron’s children’s book on the dangers of pride is being released in concert with LGBTQ Pride Month, but the Christian actor and author wants to make it clear that the story isn’t political.
“My book is not an anti-gay book. It is a pro-humility book,” Mr. Cameron told The Washington Times. “For those who would try to attack me for this being something other than what it is, frankly — that’s prideful. And I would suggest they buy a copy of my book.”
Or, he added, “I’ll send them one for free so they can benefit from it.”
He debuted “Pride Comes Before the Fall,” his second illustrated work for conservative publisher Brave Books, at a packed Saturday reading at the Seattle Public Library, drawing an estimated 200-plus children and parents at the latest stop on his nationwide library tour.
“When you have an entire nation setting aside a month to celebrate something as dangerous as pride, I feel it’s my responsibility to hold up the truth of humility so kids can have a chance,” Mr. Cameron said. “They deserve the chance to have a life of blessing, not a life of misery and destruction that comes from being focused on yourself.”
“Pride” has become the rallying cry of the LGBTQ movement, but Mr. Cameron said his story of a tiger learning a lesson in kindness and humility offers a reminder that pride is also one of the seven deadly sins – in fact, the deadliest sin, according to Christian tradition.
“You can go through the whole list - wrath, sloth, envy, lust - but they all stem from the deadliest of sins, which is pride,” Mr. Cameron said. “We all know that instinctively, so the idea there would be an entire month devoted to the dangers of pride is very concerning.”
He said the title of the book comes from Proverbs 16:18, which says “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
“We think it’s grieving that children are being taught that pride is good, and to celebrate pride, which is really about self-focus,” Mr. Cameron said. “That’s what pride is: It’s all about me, it’s all about myself. It’s all about self-expression, self-love, self-exaltation. And that always leads to problems.”
Appearing with Mr. Cameron in Seattle was Joe Kennedy, the Bremerton High School football coach who was suspended in 2015 for praying on-field with players after games. He was rehired and reached a settlement with the school district for nearly $2 million after winning his free-speech case last year at the Supreme Court.
“I met Kirk years ago when my case first started,” said Mr. Kennedy in a statement. “Throughout all of it, he has been so supportive, and we’ve continued to stay in contact with each other and have become good friends. When I heard he was doing these story hours, I knew I wanted to be involved and return my support.”
Now: Hundreds pack into the Seattle Public Library to hear a Christian-based children’s book reading by author and actor @KirkCameron. pic.twitter.com/StRfQzdasF
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) May 27, 2023
The Seattle event followed the usual pattern: The library agreed to reserve a meeting room for the publisher for a fee, but not sponsor the reading. Local progressives objected. The library responded with a statement saying that it was barred by the First Amendment from discriminating based on viewpoint.
“Local, state and federal law, as well as our commitment to intellectual freedom, prohibits us from censoring constitutionally protected speech, even when that speech is hateful and does not align with our values,” said the Seattle Public Library website post.
Brave Books reserved a 125-person meeting room for the reading, but after it became clear that the audience would exceed the room’s capacity, the library gave Mr. Cameron use of the larger auditorium, which seats 275.
“I was especially struck by the parents who said, ‘Thank you for coming to Seattle – where people forget there are good, God-loving, and patriotic families,’” said Mr. Cameron in a statement after the reading.
The event drew a handful of pro-LGBTQ protesters outside the library waving signs with messages such as “Queer and Proud” and “It’s Drag, Kirk. Get Over It.”
One man showed up with a large sign that said, “You Are Growing to Be a Real Pain,” a reference to Mr. Cameron’s popular 1980s-era sitcom “Growing Pains.”
Mr. Cameron couldn’t resist giving the protester a shout-out. “Nicely played, Sir!” he said.
Brave Books launched the library tour earlier this year after more than 50 libraries turned down or ignored requests to host Mr. Cameron’s reading, even though many if not all of them had sponsored Drag Queen Story Hour events.
Critics have accused Mr. Cameron of being “homophobic” and “transphobic,” while he argued that not all LGBTQ people are comfortable with grown men in outrageous women’s costumes reading to young children at schools and libraries.
“There are many, many people within the gay community who are appalled at the wicked acts and things being done in the name of their community,” Mr. Cameron said.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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