Kirk Cameron Defends His Anti-Gay Comments

Kirk Cameron, predictably, responded today to the controversy over his recent comments on the "destructiveness" of homosexuality, but he's not backing down. When he appeared on Piers Morgan Tonight Friday, "I spoke as honestly as I could, but some people believe my responses were not loving toward those in the gay community," says Cameron in an email statement to ABC News. "That is not true. I can assuredly say that it’s my life’s mission to love all people."

"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," he continues. And, of course, he conjures all his gay friends: "I’ve been encouraged by the support of many friends (including gay friends, incidentally)." Those friends apparently don't include Cameron's Growing Pains co-stars Tracey Gold and Alan Thicke, who both tweeted their opposition to Cameron. (More Kirk Cameron stories.)