The Duggar family is hitting back at their liberal critics with a petition to save TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting.
Earlier in the week, a Change.org petition was launched by Jim Wissick of San Jose, Calif. to cancel the popular because he says that Michelle Duggar has encouraged fear of LGBTQ people due her efforts to repeal a local law.
A counter-petition was launched on Ipetitions.com (and posted to Mom Michelle Duggar’s Facebook page) which reads in part:
"The Duggar Family is under attack from anti-marriage advocates for standing for traditional marriage. We commend The Duggar Family for their brave stand in defending marriage as ordained by God between one man and one woman. No individual's sexual behavior and chosen lifestyle has the right to redefine marriage.
"Sign our petition today to let TLC know that you support the Duggars' stand for traditional marriage.
“As with everyone else in this nation, the Duggars have the right to express their opinions and beliefs. They're firmly-rooted in the teachings of the Bible, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that they do not approve of the gay lifestyle. With that said, however, they have never shown hatred towards anyone, straight or gay.”
The Robertsons are another conservative family with a TV show, and they faced similar controversy last year when their “Duck Dynasty” show was almost cancelled. For her part, Sadie Robertson says that the Duggars are “wonderful” and she welcomes the comparison with the Duggars’ family values.
"It doesn't bother me at all," she told E! News. "I've actually met the Duggars once and they're great people. So to be compared to them is actually an honor, not anything bad."
As of today, the petition to keep “19 Kids and Counting” has garnered nearly 53k signatures. The petition to end the show has 159k.
Michelle Duggar drew ire from the gay and lesbian community once before, after she hosted a challenge on Facebook recently for married couples to post pictures of themselves kissing. She has been accused of deleting photos sent by same-sex couples.
Editor's Add-On: A second pro-Duggar petition, by LifeSite, has garnered more than 180,000 signatures - after just four days. It took the anti-Duggar petition three months to hit 150,000. Newbusters explains.