Gay marriage row at Miss USA show

 

 

 

The runner-up at the Miss USA beauty pageant says her outspoken opposition to gay marriage cost her first place in the competition.

 

 

 

During the televised event, Carrie Prejean - Miss California - said she believed that "a marriage should be between a man and a woman".

 

 

 

She had been asked for her views on the subject by one of the judges, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.

 

 

 

"It did cost me my crown," said Ms Prejean, after the competition.

 

 

 

The eventual winner of the pageant was Kristen Dalton, Miss North Carolina.

 

 

 

'Alienated'

 

 

 

"We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage," said Ms Prejean, in a section of the show that has become a popular clip on YouTube.

 

 

 

"I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman," she continued.

 

 

 

"No offence to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."

 

 

 

The remarks drew a mixture of booing and applause from the audience.

 

 

 

Speaking after the show, which was broadcast on Sunday evening in the US, Ms Prejean said: "I wouldn't have had it any other way. I said what I feel. I stated an opinion that was true to myself and that's all I can do."

 

 

 

Hilton said he had been "floored" by Ms Prejean's answer, which, he said, "alienated millions of gay and lesbian Americans, their families and their supporters".

 

 

 

He told ABC News: "She lost it because of that question. She was definitely the front-runner before that."

 

 

 

Keith Lewis, who runs the Miss California competition, released a statement condemning Ms Prejean's comments.

 

 

 

"As co-director of the Miss California USA, I am personally saddened and hurt that Miss California believes marriage rights belong only to a man and a woman."

 

 

 

The issue of same-sex marriage is a flashpoint in American politics.

 

 

 

Four US states now allow gay marriage, but many other states have passed legislation outlawing it.

 

 

 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8009359.stm

 

 

 

Apparently, there is quite abit of speculation as to whether or not her answer to the question cost her the crown.

 

 

 

It seems this Perez Hilton (why is he judging a beauty contest?) asked the girl a question, then flipped out when she has an opinion that differs from his.

 

 

 

Why were they asking such a question to begin with? Its a beauty pageant, not a political campaign.

There's no proof whatsoever that she would have won. Yes, judges can be biased, but that doesn't mean they specifically voted against her because of that. It sounds to me more like no more then an attempt by a jealous runner-up to grab the spotlight. And yes, I'm steering clear of the same sex marriage debate #-o

Well, I disagree with her opinion, but what's she going to do, lie?

how dare someone use their first amendmant rights to say something different then what someone else believes :evil:

 

 

 

Seriously, while I disagree with her position it certainly seems her answer was entirely genuine and from seeing her on television she seems a competant individual(unlike a miss sc of years gone by). As to whether it cost her the competition, if so its quite foolish to punish her for answering a question and if not it doesnt matter since this isnt exactly going to start ww3.

 

 

 

There's no proof whatsoever that she would have won. Yes, judges can be biased, but that doesn't mean they specifically voted against her because of that. It sounds to me more like no more then an attempt by a jealous runner-up to grab the spotlight. And yes, I'm steering clear of the same sex marriage debate

 

 

 

one of the judges(who is gay) has been on air talking about how her response made her lose/hurt her chances along with general bad mouthing.

Dumb [bleep] shouldn't have asked what she thought of it.

 

 

 

Seriously, you shouldn't be able to judge people on what they were raised to believe. Fair enough, it is a touchy subject at the moment, but then, should the question have been asked in the first place if they were going to make her lose due to her opinion.

 

 

 

Okay, so I support same-sex marriage, I won't stop it, but this is like a teacher failing someone because their view differs on an essay which requires their own opinion.

THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE (opinion)

THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE (opinion)

 

 

 

fascist /joke

 

 

 

I just realised how underhanded that question was, if the judge was going to make her lose by answering in a way he didnt want her to the question should have been invalid.

That's a pity. Good to see she stood up for what she believed in though.

There's no proof whatsoever that she would have won. Yes, judges can be biased, but that doesn't mean they specifically voted against her because of that. It sounds to me more like no more then an attempt by a jealous runner-up to grab the spotlight. And yes, I'm steering clear of the same sex marriage debate #-o

 

 

 

You haven't been reading what Perez Hilton has been writing, obviously <_<

 

 

 

(He reffered to her as a "dumb [bleep]", just so you know.)

 

 

 

Anywho, Perez Hilton is a moron for asking such a loaded question. If you don't want to hear the answer to a question, then don't ask it. It's as simple as that.

I lol'd at this topic, only because I looked up that dude.

I lol'd at this topic, only because I looked up that dude.

 

 

 

yeah it was quite hilarious, I saw an interview and apparently he wouldnt have cared if she said bibically correct. Yes, hes offended but only because she didnt explicitly say gay people should have civil union rights and because she didnt cite the bible enough.

That guy needs to seriously shut his mouth once in a while, not because he's gay, because he's obnoxious.

No bikini shots, no interest :thumbdown:

it didn't matter what she said

 

 

 

-get the gay/lesbians mad

 

-get the core Christians mad

 

 

 

compared to her opponent who had the question "do you think giving bail out money to failing companies is a good idea?" which has far less controversy, most people disagree with it, and that's what she said

The question itself was utterly stupid. Why would you ask something that half of the audience/voters are going to hate her for?

 

 

 

But meh, the only reason I care its cuz its Miss California. :lol:

I've seen this guy, and I know what he does... Grade A [bleep] head. I love when the preachers of "tolerance" can't tolerate diversity of opinion. Unless of course you agree with them.

 

 

 

Kudos to her.

 

 

 

---

Perez Hilton, which is a God awful name by the way, is an idiot. He needs to realize that people have different opinions on subjects and I think that she should've gotten bonus points for speaking her mind truthfully.

 

 

 

It still confuses me why there are questions being asked in a beauty competition. It's like judging how well a person looks in a math competition. :wall:

I think perez hilton is just being an [wagon] about it. What the hell was he doing judging a beauty contest anyways?

Perez Hilton was immature about the whole thing. His excuse is that she should have given a "politically correct" answer, which just makes me think lower of him and the whole judging panel, if that's the kind of brainless drivel they want to hear from their contestants. They should speak their minds, not be forced into giving a predictiable PC answer.

http://perezhilton.com/tv/index.php?ptvid=0bad59ed42807

 

 

 

That's a video on his thoughts on Miss California's answer.

 

 

 

I typed up what he said if you're too lazy to watch it (may have a few mistakes but w/e):

 

 

 

Ello, okay, so. Miss USA literally just finished and I have to make a video blog. Everyone's gonna be talking about it. I was the youtube moment of the show, the pagent, when I asked Miss California her question and when she gave THE worst answer in pageant history. She got booed. I think that was the first time in Miss USA EVER that a contestant has been booed. Now, let me explain to you. She lost not because she doesn't believe in gay marriage, Miss California lost because she's a dumb [bleep]. Okay? THIS is how a person with half a brain answers the cancer I posed her, which is, 'Vermont recently legalised same sex marriage, do you think other states should follow suit? Why or why not?' Well, if I were miss california with half a brain, I would have said, 'Hmm, Perez, that's a great question. That's a very hot topic in our country right now, and I think that that is a question that each state should decide for themselves, because that's how our forefathers designed our government. You know? The states rule themselves and then there's certain laws which are federal. She gives us SOMETHING along those lines, but she didn't. She gave an awful, awful answer which alienated so many people, and Miss California, Miss USA, she doesn't alienate; she unites - she inspires. I am so disappointed in Miss California representing my country. Not because she doesn't believe in gay marriage, because she doesn't inspire and she doesn't unite. And that is what a Miss California and a Miss USA should. And I could NOT BELIEVE when she became first runner up. If that girl would have won Miss USA California, I would've gone up on stage, I [cabbage] you not, I would've gone up on stage, snatched that tiara off her head and run out the door. Then I probably would've been arrested, but you know what? So be it. UGH, thank goodness Miss South Carolina won or North Carolina, whichever one won, because she deserved it so much more. Okay. I need a cocktail now.

 

 

 

I watched the youtube video, and it doesn't sound like she's being booed off. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfoSy4W20pM)

http://perezhilton.com/tv/index.php?ptvid=0bad59ed42807

 

 

 

That's a video on his thoughts on Miss California's answer.

 

 

 

I typed up what he said if you're too lazy to watch it (may have a few mistakes but w/e):

 

 

 

Ello, okay, so. Miss USA literally just finished and I have to make a video blog. Everyone's gonna be talking about it. I was the youtube moment of the show, the pagent, when I asked Miss California her question and when she gave THE worst answer in pageant history. She got booed. I think that was the first time in Miss USA EVER that a contestant has been booed. Now, let me explain to you. She lost not because she doesn't believe in gay marriage, Miss California lost because she's a dumb [bleep]. Okay? THIS is how a person with half a brain answers the cancer I posed her, which is, 'Vermont recently legalised same sex marriage, do you think other states should follow suit? Why or why not?' Well, if I were miss california with half a brain, I would have said, 'Hmm, Perez, that's a great question. That's a very hot topic in our country right now, and I think that that is a question that each state should decide for themselves, because that's how our forefathers designed our government. You know? The states rule themselves and then there's certain laws which are federal. She gives us SOMETHING along those lines, but she didn't. She gave an awful, awful answer which alienated so many people, and Miss California, Miss USA, she doesn't alienate; she unites - she inspires. I am so disappointed in Miss California representing my country. Not because she doesn't believe in gay marriage, because she doesn't inspire and she doesn't unite. And that is what a Miss California and a Miss USA should. And I could NOT BELIEVE when she became first runner up. If that girl would have won Miss USA California, I would've gone up on stage, I [cabbage] you not, I would've gone up on stage, snatched that tiara off her head and run out the door. Then I probably would've been arrested, but you know what? So be it. UGH, thank goodness Miss South Carolina won or North Carolina, whichever one won, because she deserved it so much more. Okay. I need a cocktail now.

 

 

 

I watched the youtube video, and it doesn't sound like she's being booed off. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfoSy4W20pM)

 

I'm sorry Mr. Hilton. I wasn't aware that there were right or wrong answers in a question asking for someone's opinion

[hide=Perez Hilton Quote]

Ello, okay, so. Miss USA literally just finished and I have to make a video blog. Everyone's gonna be talking about it. I was the youtube moment of the show, the pagent, when I asked Miss California her question and when she gave THE worst answer in pageant history. She got booed. I think that was the first time in Miss USA EVER that a contestant has been booed. Now, let me explain to you. She lost not because she doesn't believe in gay marriage, Miss California lost because she's a dumb [bleep]. Okay? THIS is how a person with half a brain answers the cancer I posed her, which is, 'Vermont recently legalised same sex marriage, do you think other states should follow suit? Why or why not?' Well, if I were miss california with half a brain, I would have said, 'Hmm, Perez, that's a great question. That's a very hot topic in our country right now, and I think that that is a question that each state should decide for themselves, because that's how our forefathers designed our government. You know? The states rule themselves and then there's certain laws which are federal. She gives us SOMETHING along those lines, but she didn't. She gave an awful, awful answer which alienated so many people, and Miss California, Miss USA, she doesn't alienate; she unites - she inspires. I am so disappointed in Miss California representing my country. Not because she doesn't believe in gay marriage, because she doesn't inspire and she doesn't unite. And that is what a Miss California and a Miss USA should. And I could NOT BELIEVE when she became first runner up. If that girl would have won Miss USA California, I would've gone up on stage, I [cabbage] you not, I would've gone up on stage, snatched that tiara off her head and run out the door. Then I probably would've been arrested, but you know what? So be it. UGH, thank goodness Miss South Carolina won or North Carolina, whichever one won, because she deserved it so much more. Okay. I need a cocktail now.

[/hide]Pathetic.

 

 

 

Apparently, Miss California is a "dumb [bleep]" with "half a brain" for expressing an opinion. In all honesty, this was an unreasonable question to stick her with in the first place; as others have already mentioned, she risked alienation however she answered. To quote Stilev:

it didn't matter what she said

 

 

 

-get the gay/lesbians mad

 

-get the core Christians mad

 

Of course, she could have taken the easy way out with a nicely packaged "PC" evasion, but who wants to listen to more of the same? The Miss USA Pageant has enough problems with this as it is--"World Peace" in particular comes to mind.

 

 

 

Who is this man, anyway? I'm sure he thinks he's very clever right now. :thumbdown:

I find it funny that PH doesn't know which Carolina won.

They ask an opinion, get an answer they dislike, get upset. That's pathetic. -.-

 

 

 

I'm open to either marriage, but to ask someones opinion and seek revenge based on the answer...

Well I personally think she handled the situation well and stood up for her beliefs in a calm manner (i.e not going "HOMOSEXUALS ARE BAD. NO HOMOSEXUALS.")

 

 

 

Even though I don't agree with her opinion, I don't think it should have stopped her from winning, but PH does make a point -- Miss U.S.A is meant to inspire.

 

 

 

What if little girls started hating gay people purely because Miss California didn't believe in marriage between two people of the same sex?