By Carter Fortman
Conservative Hollywood actor and Young America’s Foundation speaker Kirk Cameron says more than 50 public libraries have denied his request to read his new children’s book, As You Grow, which champions traditional family and Biblical values.
“Cameron takes children through the growth of the tree, the city, and its people (animals) with simple yet poetic wording perfect for early readers,” his publishing company wrote in a statement to YAF. “He builds the story in a way that helps children understand the Fruits of the Spirit, especially love, are what helps us grow to be strong, successful people, cities, and countries someday.”
It’s common practice for libraries to allow authors of new-release children’s books to host “story hours.” The mutually beneficial community events provide authors the opportunity to share their work with interested audience members, and the libraries, in turn, the chance to bring more foot traffic in through their doors. Who could turn down such an opportunity? As it turns out, leftist librarians and library board members have no interest in hosting the famous actor.
Many of the same libraries have previously hosted drag story hours with people pretending to be the opposite gender, Cameron shared during a recent Fox News appearance.
For example, the Rochambeau Public Library in Providence, Rhode Island, told Cameron they were not going to host his event due to values misalignment: “We are a very queer-friendly library. Our messaging does not align,” a librarian reportedly told Cameron’s publisher. The same library regularly promotes a club called “Queer Umbrella,” which features frequent “drag queen story hour” events.
The San Lorenzo Library in California, which hosts weekly “free help sessions” for those looking to change their names and gender identities, also declined the opportunity.
“This is proof that more than ever, we are getting destroyed in the battle for the hearts and minds of our children,” Cameron told YAF. “I mean, publicly funded libraries are green-lighting ‘Gender Marker and Name Change Clinics,’ while denying a story time that would involve the reading of a book that teaches biblical wisdom and the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. How much more clear can it get?”
