Actor and author Kirk Cameron announced he scored two victories recently when two public libraries that had hosted a “drag queen story hour” for children finally agreed to allow him to hold a children’s faith-based story hour.
The libraries denied him their facilities at first but then reconsidered once he threatened court action.
“[T]hey caved,” Cameron’s book publisher told Fox News Digital over the weekend regarding the writer’s plan to hold his children’s story hour at the Indianapolis Public Library in Indiana and the Scarsdale Public Library in Scarsdale, New York, at the end of the month.
“I love situations in which we have two ways to win and zero ways to lose,” said Trent Talbot, CEO of Brave Books. “We forced these bullies to either take off their masks and show their true colors of unabashed anti-Christian and anti-American bias (as well as catch themselves in a spicy lawsuit) OR the bullies were going to realize that Kirk and Brave were here to fight and they would back down.”
Actor and writer Kirk Cameron defends family, faith and God in new kids' bookhttps://t.co/yuBxlhkhJi
— BRAVE BOOKS (@BraveBooksUS) December 1, 2022
“I’m happy that the two libraries changed their decision and will allow my voice to be heard and my book to be read,” Cameron also told Fox News Digital. “I hope they realized that their position of denying me a story hour reading was not only unfair and illegal, but that we would all be better off if we listened to each other’s perspectives.”
As the report notes, over 50 public libraries in big cities nationwide either refused Cameron’s request for a children’s story hour focused on his book or ignored the request.
Cameron, who is well-known for his role on the television sitcom Growing Pains and his recent production of The Homeschool Awakening, is the author of As You Grow, an illustrated book that teaches children biblical values.
The book is part of a subscription series for children that encourages patience, compassion, and kindness.
Thank you @realDailyWire for bringing light to this Victory!https://t.co/W2DIUHN36X
— BRAVE BOOKS (@BraveBooksUS) December 20, 2022
According to the Fox News Digital report, the Indianapolis Public Library will charge $725 to rent a room for the story hour, while the Scarsdale library room costs $200.
An employee of the Indianapolis library reportedly initially told Brave Books:
Generally when we have author visits, those are coordinated through our departments. We really have a push. We have a strategic plan in place, so we are really looking at authors who are diverse. Authors of color. That’s really been our focus.
When Brave Books emphasized that Cameron’s book contributes by offering additional ideas and beliefs, the library staffer replied, “Well, we are focusing on racial equity.”
Brave Books sent a request to Scarsdale Public Library that reportedly said:
We would love to schedule a story hour for Mr. Cameron’s book where we read “As You Grow” and speak to families about following the wisdom of the Bible, as well as discussing the harmful effects of woke ideologies, specifically CRT and the transgender agenda.
The Scarsdale library originally responded, “Thank you for thinking of us, but we are not interested in this program.”
https://twitter.com/BraveBooksUS/status/1604937187144900623
“It is incorrect to state that the library has changed its position,” Elizabeth Bermel, director of the Scarsdale library, however, commented to Fox News Digital. “The publisher and Mr. Cameron were never denied the opportunity to book a room. Rather, they never previously requested to book the library’s meeting room.”
According to the report, however, the library did receive a message on December 2 with a request to schedule a story hour with Cameron.
Fox News Digital further reported:
Cameron and Brave Books told Fox News Digital that while they’re glad the book programs at the two public libraries are now moving forward, “neither library has offered any assistance as far as promoting [the] book reading, sponsoring it or simply asking more information about it to be able to better serve those who inquire about the event from library staff,” they said.
In addition to drag queen story hours, both libraries reportedly have hosted and promoted “diversity, equity, and inclusion” events, with the Indianapolis library supporting a Black Lives Matter event.
The Scarsdale library also hosted a discussion regarding “Abortion in America Post-Dobbs.”
“I hope that this victory acts as a source of courage for Christians and conservatives across the country to be brave and not back down, making sure that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the darkness,” Cameron said about his wins.
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Susan Berry, PhD, is national education editor at The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Kirk Cameron” by Kirk Cameron.
