An Activist Judge vs. Near-Miss California

How many gay men are behind her success? At least one helped bring her down.

Toward the end of tonight's Miss USA Pageant, held at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Sin City,  Miss California—heavily favored to win and mopping up the floor with her competitors in the contest so far—was asked by Perez Hilton for her thoughts on legalizing gay marriage.

CHEERS FROM THE GAY PAGEANT CROWD.

As if a living, breathing representative of the entire Prop 8 debacle, Miss California was briefly diplomatic, but:

"Well, I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or another. Um, we live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And, you know what? In my country and in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised and that's how I think that it should be—between a man and a woman. Thank you!"

CHEERS (and some boos?) FROM THE ANTI-GAY (YET GAY!) PAGEANT CROWD.

And a sullen face from Perez:

What is she even saying? On the one hand, America is the land of choice...yay!...but ultimately, marriage should be between a man and a woman. Which would mean no choice for anyone gay.

Unlike with Proposition 8, this story has a happy ending—minutes later, Miss California could muster only First Runner-Up, with Miss North Carolina (whose views on the subject could be...anything!) taking the crown.

I agree, but is it proper to Tweet, as a judge, during the contest?

It always pays to be honest about how you feel. Unless you're a bigot and time is in the process of passing you by.

The new Miss USA—her marriage-equality views are unknown.

Comments

[Kyle]

'It always pays to be honest about how you feel. Unless you're a bigot and time is in the process of passing you by.'

Well said!!!!

[Heph]

What has me worried me are the cheers you can hear in the background.

Anyway what was that drivel about choice? I really hope that the gay´s boycott her.

[Mad Professah]

Wow....

It is interesting that she knew being against gay marriage could be damaging to her chances but she still ended up being fully incoherent.

Who is going to ask the new Miss USA her thoughts?

[Matthew Rettenmund]

I dread the fact that Miss NC *WILL* be asked this question if she hasn't already. If God has a nasty sense of humor, she'll reply, "I thought her answer was too liberal!"

[Anne]

Heph, how can one "boycott" Miss USA, particularly one who is "not a winner?"

[Todd]

As a gay man, I obviously don't agree with her, but I feel that people shouldn't go after her with a vegeance - especially Perez Hilton who's obviously milking every bit of this story to his own benefit - but after the system that created this type of hatred and prejudice.

[ms]

it's ALRIGHT to be angry and it's TIME after all these years. ^_-