The Duggars' decision to ban photos of same-sex couples kissing from the family's Facebook page has irked the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) community, who has now launched a petition to cancel the show.
The petition on Change.org has already received 59,865 supporters, and it seeks to "end LGBTQ fear mongering by the Duggars." The online petition noted that the Duggars have spent massive amounts to repeal equal housing rights to LGBT, "warning Fayetteville residents that transgender people are child predators."
"The Duggars have been using their fame to promote discrimination, hate, and fear-mongering against gays and transgendered people. You need to take a stand on the side of justice and cancel their show," the petition read.
As fans of the show know, the Duggars are highly religious and passionate about their beliefs. Recently, when questioned about their anti-gay stance, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar responded with a quote by Rick Warren, evangelical Christian pastor.
"Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone's lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. Second is that to love someone means that you must agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don't have to compromise convictions to be compassionate."
Sadly, this isn't the first time that the Duggars have faced a backlash from the LGBT community. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's eldest son Josh Duggar is the executive director of the anti-gay Family Research Council's action group, which links homosexuality with pedophilia, and calls the LGBTQ community "pawns of the devil."
The family has not reacted to the petition seeking the cancellation of their show. The latest update on their family blog is about Jill's pregnancy. After the premiere of Tuesday's "A Reveal to Remember," Jill and her accountant husband Derick Dillard showed off the first photos of their baby to viewers.
The baby, a boy, is due in March, and it is their first child.
"I actually got to feel him move a couple times this week," she said in the clip. Derick added that he was the first to feel the baby. "I had to give him a little squeeze but then he kicked back," Derick said. "It was really exciting!"
