Stephen Baldwin has come out in support
of civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples.
The 45-year-old Baldwin made his
endorsement in the course of discussing Kirk Cameron's recent
controversial comments.
During an appearance on CNN's Piers
Morgan Tonight, Cameron told host Piers Morgan that being gay is
“detrimental, and ultimately destructive” and that he would not
be supportive if one of his six sons told him he was gay.
Baldwin, an evangelical Christian, told
The Rosie Show host Rosie O'Donnell that she was one of the
gay people in his life that he “loved and admired.”
“It hurts me personally when I see
you saying that gay people don't have the same rights that you do,”
O'Donnell said. “To be gay in America, people condemn you. Little
guy from Growing Pains [Cameron] says you're responsible for
the decline of civilization and society.”
“It's not what you say, it's how you
say it,” Baldwin responded. “I have never said the gay community
doesn't have any rights.”
“Do gay people they have the right to
marry each other?”
“Yes,” Baldwin replied, then added,
“Meaning, in their world ...”
“Well, not in your church,”
O'Donnell interrupted. “Just legally in a union.”
“Absolutely,” Baldwin said. (The
video is embedded in the right panel. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
Later, Baldwin added he loved Cameron
but he said it wrong, “because all sin … is never going to go
away.”
(Related: Tracey
Gold hits Kirk Cameron at GLAAD Media Awards.)