OPINION:
A version of this story appeared in the Higher Ground newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive Higher Ground delivered directly to your inbox each Sunday.
Inclusivity, as defined by the “woke” left, demands embracing radical, degenerate theories about gender and sex while flatly excluding traditional, family-friendly and above all Christian ideas about sexuality. In other words, you can’t be too accepting of opposing views, because that wouldn’t be inclusive.
The best recent example of this twisted logic is presented to us courtesy of an unexpected source: drag queen RuPaul and his “bookstore for all stories.” An “all-inclusive world of book lovers,” Allstora proudly touts its LGBTQ, female and “underrepresented” authors, plus a curated collection of so-called banned books handpicked by RuPaul himself. But the bookstore’s mainstay claim to inclusivity would quickly be tested.
You see, while the online site purported to support “all” books, it didn’t mean those published by Brave Books or other Christian or conservative titles. God forbid readers find wholesome stories at an “all-inclusive” bookstore.
“Allstora, the online bookstore co-founded by RuPaul, recently faced a whirlwind of criticism after it was revealed that the company was selling anti-LGBTQ+ books by right-wing authors,” The Advocate reported. “After initially doubling down and claiming to oppose censorship of any kind, the company quietly reversed itself before putting out a public apology.”
It’s true. At first, this RuPaul-founded company tried to defend the presence of titles published by Brave Books — books for children penned by “right-wing” authors such as myself, Kevin Sorbo, Riley Gaines and others — on its shelves. It didn’t take long for Allstora to realize, though, that “inclusivity” does not include those who hold biological truths about gender — truths that were widely embraced for all of human history until about five minutes ago. People like us, with our antiquated views about masculinity and femininity, are gleefully spurned from the “all-inclusive” table. We’re dismissed as hate-filled and radical.
“My name is Eric Cervini, and I’m a queer historian,” Allstora’s CEO and co-founder wrote in a public apology too absurd for satire. “I’ve spent the past week listening to … customers, RuPaul fans, marginalized authors, and readers who feel betrayed by the inclusion of hate-filled books in our catalog. … I’m devastated that I’ve caused Ru’s name to be even loosely associated with hate, and I take full responsibility for the decision to include these books. I’m horrified by the thought of a queer or trans youth accidentally stumbling upon a harmful book on our platform. … While other online bookstores will continue selling hate-filled books, Allstora will not.”
OK, enough with the waterworks. We get it. The guy is clearly devastated. But to be clear, these are my books Mr. Cervini is calling “hate-filled” and “harmful,” and as such, I feel obligated to respond.
First, I wonder if anyone at Allstora has even cracked the cover of one of my apparently “abhorrent” works. If they did, they would discover that contrary to what the trolls on social media say, they really are innocent, kid-safe, and for the most part nonpolitical. The mere fact that they are marketed as family-friendly alternatives to the “woke” garbage pushed on children today, however, is enough to arouse the wrath of RuPaul and his “inclusive” band of bookmen.
All of which leads me to my second point: The same “woke” left that vehemently opposes “book bans” on pornography and explicit materials in school libraries is suddenly all for banning books when they target kid-friendly titles that promote good values and truth. They want your children to read the first type; they’re afraid of the second.
Don’t be fooled: This isn’t about inclusivity or ending hate. It’s about espousing an agenda and foisting a radical viewpoint about sexuality on children. The culture war for our children is heating up, and we must pick a side. Will we stand on the side of RuPaul and those who equate hate with truth and censorship with decency? Or will we stand up for the truth and speak out for our children, no matter how hard the “woke” mob tries to shut us down?
• Kirk Cameron is a Christian, producer, actor, author, and loving husband and father of six. Kirk has made a big impact in our society through films like Fireproof, The Homeschool Awakening, and Lifemark. He linked arms with BRAVE Books in December of 2022 and since has been lighting brushfires of faith and freedom across the country through movements like national See You at the Library Day. His passion for bringing traditional biblical and American values back to public spaces is contagious and reviving hope for families everywhere.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.