OCEAN GROVE — Five years ago, Harriet Bernstein and Luisa Paster were hurt and insulted when they were denied permission to have their civil union ceremony conducted in an oceanfront pavilion owned by a Methodist group in Ocean Grove.

Their experience spawned a complaint with the state Division on Civil Rights and a long battle to clarify whether the organization could refuse to accommodate gays.

Friday, Bernstein and Paster joined other same-sex couples, gays and their supporters to protest the appearance of former child-actor Kirk Cameron — who has criticized gay marriage and labeled homosexuality "unnatural" — just blocks from where they wanted to be united in 2007.

"It was like another blow to learn about what Kirk Cameron said on television and then to learn that he was appearing in the Great Auditorium tonight and invited by the (Ocean Grove) Camp Meeting Association, the very people who were advised against us five years ago," Bernstein said. "But in another way, it opened up a door because there is new leadership in the Camp Meeting Association from five years ago and we have been able to dialogue with them over the situation."

The local advocacy group Ocean Grove United organized a peaceful protest march to the Great Auditorium where Cameron was speaking to about 500 couples to counsel them on how to strengthen their marriages.

Armed with signs that read "Kirk! Your Words Hurt Us," about 100 protesters made their way to the Great Auditorium, passing mothers walking with children, people walking their dogs and residents lazing on their porches on a warm summer night.

Ron and Debbie Watson of Ledgewood in Morris County, who attended the marriage conference, said they didn’t expect the backlash.

Debbie Watson said Ocean Grove, founded as a Christian community, accepts gays because of its religious roots.

"I know a lot of people were upset about what (Cameron) said about gay marriage, but I never expected this," she said.

Dale Whilden, president of the Camp Meeting Association, said members, acting on the concerns of residents such as Bernstein and Paster, asked Cameron about his talk and were assured it wasn’t anti-gay.

He said the association invited Cameron back this year because his appearance last year was so well received.

But that was before Cameron, who starred in the 1980s sit-com "Growing Pains," made his controversial comments in an interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan earlier this year.

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In the interview Cameron, said called homosexuality "unnatural ... detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization."

On the issue of marriage equality, he said, "Marriage was defined by God a long time ago. Marriage is almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve — one man, one woman for life till death do you part. So I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage. And I don’t think anyone else should either. So do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don’t."

Corey Bernstein, 17, co-chairman of the Youth Caucus at Garden State Equality, a gay advocacy group, invited Cameron to a lunch today along with other members of the LGBT community. Cameron, however, declined the invitation.

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Related coverage:

• Effort to bar civil unions in Ocean Grove is rebuffed by appeals court

• State sides with lesbian couple in fight against Ocean Grove association