Kirk Cameron hosts story hour outside New York City library after publisher says he was denied space indoors
Library officials refute claim, say publisher is seeking 'publicity at our expense'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Christian actor-author Kirk Cameron brought his message, of faith, family and country to Bryant Park next to the sprawling main branch of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Friday afternoon.
He hosted the lunchtime reading of his children’s book, "As You Grow," outdoors on a brisk, 49-degree spring day after his publisher, Brave Books, claimed Cameron was refused space to speak inside 20 different branches of the New York Public Library system.
Library officials said Cameron's publisher was offered space indoors at a branch location but never responded.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}IN D.C., AN UNDAUNTED KIRK CAMERON IS HOLDING A PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOK READING DESPITE PUSHBACK
"Rather than complain about bad things going on in the world I wake up in the morning saying how can I be part of the solution," Cameron told Fox News Digital before speaking to a few dozen moms, dads and children on the back side of the library.
"Freedom is a rare and precious gift and we need to hold onto it."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Kirk Cameron has been traveling to public libraries across the country to promote faith, family and country as he discusses his book "As You Grow." (Brad Schwartzrock/iStock)
The New York Public Library claimed that on Monday it offered space for the event to Brave Books.
"Freedom is a rare and precious gift and we need to hold onto it." — Kirk Cameron
"They chose a location at one of our Bronx branches and asked us how much it cost. We responded with the price on Monday, and held the space in anticipation. But that was the last we heard from Brave," library officials told Fox News Digital on Friday.
MARK WAHLBERG DOESN'T ‘SHY AWAY’ FROM HIS FAITH: ‘IT’S JUST THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF MY LIFE'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Anyone saying we did not offer them space is trying to get publicity at our expense and not speaking the truth."
Ashley Burke, of Brooklyn, New York, attended a March 31, 2023 book reading by Kirk Cameron in Bryant Park in New York City with her two children, Asher and Judah. "I'm just here to support Brave Books and Kirk Cameron's mission," said Burke. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)
One email provided by the library shows that it offered Brave Books space at its Parkchester branch in the Bronx on Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at a cost of $60 per hour.
KIRK CAMERON GREETED BY OVERFLOW NEW YORK LIBRARY CROWD FOR MESSAGE OF FAITH, FAMILY, COUNTRY
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The library has generated outrage from New York City residents and local leaders after allowing and promoting what critics argue are "sexualized" drag show performances for children at the taxpayer-funded institution.
Sexualized drag shows as entertainment have exploded around the nation in venues that would have been deemed utterly outrageous throughout society until very recently.
Many of these locations are funded with tax dollars, including military bases, schools and other libraries.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Kirk Carmeron hosted a reading at Bryant Park in New York City on March 31, 2023. Cameron wore a hoodie with a biblical quote of resolve from the Book of Joshua: "Your God is with you wherever you go." (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)
"Progressive politics are promoted and rewarded, and traditional values are censored. Simple as that," Vickie Paladino, a Republican member of the New York City Council from Queens, told Fox News Digital.
"The corruption of our institutions should not go unchallenged."
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A man protesting in favor of drag performances was arrested at the Stavros Niarchos branch of the New York Public Library in Manhattan, across the street from its main branch, in December after hitting a cop.
The New York Public Library website lists several upcoming drag story hours and offers an entire page of "Drag Story Hour" videos.
"We’re here to support a wholesome story hour for once." — NYC resident "Enerjizer Jack"
"No matter the circumstances, we're here to help bring the joy of books to our youngest readers," reads the Drag Story Hour web page.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A group of New York City residents attended the Brave Books reading on Friday to support Cameron and protest sexualized content for children hosted by the library.
A man who identified himself as "Enerjizer Jack" from Staten Island attended a children's story hour with Brave Books author Kirk Cameron on Friday, March 31, 2023, to show his support for "wholesome" children's events at New York Public Library and his opposition to its "sexualized" drag shows for children in the taxpayer-funded institution. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)
"We’re here to support a wholesome story hour for once," said a man who identified himself only as Enerjizer Jack from Staten Island.
He said the library has a history of hosting performances "with sexual debauchery for children," including one, he claimed, with an outrageous drag performer known as Oliver Her Face.
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"The attention of children shouldn’t be on that topic. There should be more story hours. Policemen story hours. Firefighter story hours. But all our tax money is going to drag story hours. We don’t agree with where our money is going."