“Growing Pains” star Kirk Cameron’s comments on homosexuality spark controversy

“Growing Pains” star Kirk Cameron incited quite a controversy with comments he made about gay marriage in an interview with Piers Morgan.

When asked about his beliefs on sexuality, Cameron told Morgan he thought it was “unnatural.”

“I think that it’s detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization,” Cameron continued.

“It’s just brutal,” said radio host Ron Upshaw, in a discussion on 97.3 KIRO FM’s Ron & Don Show. “That is why we see so many kids commit suicide.”

“If you grow up and you’re told ‘You’re of the devil. You’re going to hell. You’re not worth anything. You’re wrong. You need to change the things you believe,’ eventually a few of those people are going to believe it.”

But fellow 97.3 KIRO FM host John Curley said Cameron is entitled to his beliefs.

“It’s his own beliefs and if somebody else has a different belief then that’s fine, you should be able to have a different belief,” said Curley. “When you have to start to hide what you believe or not say anything at all because you’re afraid mainstream whatever George Clooney and somebody else will start tweeting about you, you can get black balled or something and not get any work anymore, then that causes a problem in society.”

Cameron’s former “Growing Pains” co-stars and other Hollywood actors responded to the statements on twitter.

CBS reports his on-screen sister Tracy Gold tweeted: “I am a strong supporter of the #LGBT Community, and I believe in equal rights for all. #NOH8 #LOVE.”

“Growing Pains” dad Alan Thicke tweeted: “I’m getting him some new books. The Old Testament simply can’t be expected to explain everything.”

Jesse Tyler Ferguson who plays one half of the gay couple on current TV hit “Modern Family” tweeted: “The only unnatural thing about me being gay is that I had a crush on Kirk Cameron until about 24 hours ago.”

Curley said he understands gay advocates’ response.

“If you were a put upon minority and you’ve been beaten up and you’ve been bullied […] you think that we need to continually take steps, always vigilant, to make sure we aren’t losing any ground in this social battle for acceptance,” said Curley. “But I think the majority of people in America have come so far from where they were in the 60s, 70s, and 80s to being far more accepting.”

But Upshaw said he finds a large segment of the population hasn’t grown more accepting.

“I guess I get frustrated with this, that it has such long trajectory in the American conversation, that we’re still having to talk about this and we’re still having to talk about people of some influence, people that have a pedestal to stand on like Kirk Cameron,” said Upshaw. “I get it, whatever you want to believe in America you get to believe. I’m not down on Christians at all.”

But Upshaw said he doesn’t understand why some Christians feel the need to battle against gay marriage.

“The logic being it’s in the Bible, I believe the Bible therefore I can’t expose this to my children and I need to battle against this,” said Upshaw. “It really doesn’t impact you, and that’s what I don’t understand. If two men in Seattle want to get married, it doesn’t impact you.”

By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorthwest.com Editor