Neither rain nor wind deterred Kirk Cameron followers from turning out for his latest library look.
Patrons lined up outdoors within the rain Saturday to hear the Christian actor learn his youngsters’s e-book “As You Grow” on the Placentia Library in Orange County, California, the primary West Coast occasion of his anti-woke counter-cultural library tour.
He wound up reading his e-book 5 instances to accommodate all of the mother and father and kids who got here to hear him, mentioned Erin Kukowski, public-relations coordinator for Amplifi Agency.
“I’m very excited to be joining forces together with you, so keep up the great work, you guys!” Mr. Cameron advised the group.
Mr. Cameron has drawn full homes since he started his e-book tour final month, renting area in assembly rooms after greater than 50 libraries rejected or ignored requests to host the previous teen star regardless of beforehand internet hosting Drag Queen Story Hour occasions.
“Wow! What a beautiful day at Placentia Library!” tweeted Brave Books, the e-book’s writer. “Thank you to every parent, child & grandparent who showed up today to make this event a smashing success!”
Wow! What a fantastic day at Placentia Library!
Thank you to each mother or father, youngster & grandparent who confirmed up at present to make this occasion a smashing success!@KirkCameron pic.twitter.com/rwzdO2L4NN
— BRAVE Story Hour (@BraveBooksUS) January 14, 2023
Those selling the occasion included Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, a outstanding megachurch that inspired its members to attend, tweeting, “No more will the family of faith be shut out from the public square!”
On the opposite facet was the LGBTQ Center Orange County, which issued a “call to action” for its supporters, noting that Mr. Cameron “recently has publicly opposed drag queen story times.”
“We encourage our network to gather in support of LGBTQ individuals/youth and show that this rhetoric is harmful to our community,” mentioned the middle in a social-media publish.
A small band of protesters got here out to show, as proven in images. Drag Story Hour govt director Jonathan Hamilt mentioned he has discouraged protests, warning that they may gas a “right-wing media” narrative pitting drag queens towards Mr. Cameron.
Like different libraries renting area to Mr. Cameron, the Placentia Library issued an announcement distancing itself from the reading, emphasizing that “Mr. Cameron’s reading is not a library program, and therefore, not a sponsored or partnered-event with the Placentia Library District.”
“The use of the room does not constitute an endorsement of policies, or beliefs of the group or individual using the room,” mentioned library director Jeanette Contreras in a Thursday assertion.
The library, situated about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles, appeared to anticipate a good-sized viewers, warning that parking was restricted and that “[d]ue to the room capacity, it is expected groups of attendees will be rotated throughout the event.”
Brave Books estimated the group at 1,000 individuals, whereas the library administration pegged attendance at about 700. The room rental was $250, mentioned Ms. Kukowski.
Mr. Cameron, who drew overflow crowds at earlier readings in Indianapolis, Scarsdale, New York, mentioned he needs to take his free library readings to as many cities nationwide as attainable, citing the large public enthusiasm for his e-book’s Christian-themed message.
“I don’t think any of us really realized how strongly this message of wanting to return to biblical wisdom and the fruit of the spirit was going to resonate in the hearts of these moms and dads,” Mr. Cameron advised The Washington Times in an interview final week.
He added that “my book should not be controversial.”
“We’re talking about teaching children about love, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control, and yet we were denied by over 50 woke libraries who have hosted drag queen story hours,” he mentioned.
Mr. Cameron’s subsequent reading is scheduled for Jan. 18 on the Williams Public Library in Williams, Arizona, in accordance to the Brave Books web site.