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usc
politics
Miss California & The Gay Rights Thought Police
OMG! Miss California is a social conservative!
Last night, the Miss USA pageant was held -- unbeknownst to me, since all I know about pageants is what I've seen in Little Miss Sunshine. Near the end of the pageant, celebrity judge Perez Hilton was tasked with asking one question of then-frontrunner Miss California Carrie Prejean. He decided to lob a question about one of the most politically controversial issues of our time; Prejean's response may have cost her the title:
Hilton: "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit, why or why not?"
Prejean: "Well, I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where 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 very much."
Now, most politicians don't like answering that divisive question in front of a split audience, and typically squirm while doing so. For Prejean to have the courage to (even somewhat inarticulately) frame the issue as a state-by-state choice while acknowledging her honest personal beliefs, I think, shows a lot of strength and reflects well on her character.
But the beauty pageant judges were aghast at Prejeans' lack of political correctness, and retribution was swift.
"I think it did lose her the crown," Hilton said today on MSNBC. On a webcast posted late Sunday night, he ranted against Prejean, saying, "She lost not because she doesn't believe in gay marriage; she lost because she's a dumb b****."
More from Hilton: "... [T]hat is not the kind of woman I want to be Miss USA. There's a difference between running for president and being a beauty queen.
"A president is affiliated with a political party, that political party has ideologies, they are in favor with or against. A beauty queen, a beauty pageant queen, Miss USA, should represent all Americans. And with her answer, she instantly was divisive and alienated millions of gays and lesbians, their family, their friends, and supporters."
I have a much simpler answer: Why not avoid the hot-button issue during a beauty pageant in the first place? By asking that provocative question, Hilton was giving Miss California an ultimatum: answer correctly, or risk the crown.
Hilton claims no political bias, saying, "I was not upset or frustrated with her disagreeing with me about gay marriage. I was just upset and frustrated with how she answered the question."
Um, that's essentially the same thing.
Regardless of one's personal views on the issue, and whether we agree or disagree with Prejean's opinion, it's extremely troubling to see someone answer a question honestly -- articulating a viewpoint consistent with roughly half of the voters in her home state -- only to be punished by those who disagree.
It is hypocritical to fight for freedom of speech and freedom of expression if one has no tolerance for those with opposing views, and I am deeply concerned by the gay rights movement's overall decision post-Prop 8 to begin blacklisting political opponents out of anger and vengefulness.
Let's cut out the litmus test, and leave politics in the political arena.
Last night, the Miss USA pageant was held -- unbeknownst to me, since all I know about pageants is what I've seen in Little Miss Sunshine. Near the end of the pageant, celebrity judge Perez Hilton was tasked with asking one question of then-frontrunner Miss California Carrie Prejean. He decided to lob a question about one of the most politically controversial issues of our time; Prejean's response may have cost her the title:
Hilton: "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit, why or why not?"
Prejean: "Well, I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where 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 very much."
Now, most politicians don't like answering that divisive question in front of a split audience, and typically squirm while doing so. For Prejean to have the courage to (even somewhat inarticulately) frame the issue as a state-by-state choice while acknowledging her honest personal beliefs, I think, shows a lot of strength and reflects well on her character.
But the beauty pageant judges were aghast at Prejeans' lack of political correctness, and retribution was swift.
"I think it did lose her the crown," Hilton said today on MSNBC. On a webcast posted late Sunday night, he ranted against Prejean, saying, "She lost not because she doesn't believe in gay marriage; she lost because she's a dumb b****."
More from Hilton: "... [T]hat is not the kind of woman I want to be Miss USA. There's a difference between running for president and being a beauty queen.
"A president is affiliated with a political party, that political party has ideologies, they are in favor with or against. A beauty queen, a beauty pageant queen, Miss USA, should represent all Americans. And with her answer, she instantly was divisive and alienated millions of gays and lesbians, their family, their friends, and supporters."
I have a much simpler answer: Why not avoid the hot-button issue during a beauty pageant in the first place? By asking that provocative question, Hilton was giving Miss California an ultimatum: answer correctly, or risk the crown.
Hilton claims no political bias, saying, "I was not upset or frustrated with her disagreeing with me about gay marriage. I was just upset and frustrated with how she answered the question."
Um, that's essentially the same thing.
Regardless of one's personal views on the issue, and whether we agree or disagree with Prejean's opinion, it's extremely troubling to see someone answer a question honestly -- articulating a viewpoint consistent with roughly half of the voters in her home state -- only to be punished by those who disagree.
It is hypocritical to fight for freedom of speech and freedom of expression if one has no tolerance for those with opposing views, and I am deeply concerned by the gay rights movement's overall decision post-Prop 8 to begin blacklisting political opponents out of anger and vengefulness.
Let's cut out the litmus test, and leave politics in the political arena.
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Dennis
12:24AM 12:24AM Apr 21st 2009
How did the little queer get the position as a beauty contestant judge, in the first place? He's probably envious because she's the picture of femininity, and he's just a little Penis sucking queer. He should be in Iran.
Dennis
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Lanette
8:34PM 8:34PM Apr 23rd 2009
I to was shocked he was a judge....
yet another reason why i don't watch crap like that!
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Dennis
12:27AM 12:27AM Apr 21st 2009
How did the little queer get the position as a beauty contestant judge, in the first place? He's probably envious because she's the picture of femininity, and he's just a little Penis sucking queer. He should be in Iran.
Dennis
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fishonjohnson
1:07AM 1:07AM Apr 21st 2009
Yeah What the hell was that dude doing as a judge let alone at the event. Fat bastard child.
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Jed
6:29PM 6:29PM Apr 21st 2009
Yeah... Gay men have *never* been associated with beauty pageants. Ever.
He's probably the first one to even attend a beauty pageant, let alone judge one.
I know, it's weird, but these pageants are judged, organized, and operated in a manner quite unlike the wet t-shirt contests you may be more familiar with.
It was probably the inclusion of a swimsuit competition which threw you.
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mikey
12:52AM 12:52AM Apr 21st 2009
i think ur all weenie sucking doofuses..get real..at least iran has some morals and ethics that they live by..more than i can say for the western half..goober suckers.
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Bob
1:37AM 1:37AM Apr 21st 2009
Flights leave daily.
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Steven Pasillas
1:59AM 1:59AM Apr 21st 2009
Why in the world would they even have a gay man judging a women's beauty Pageant ? Maybe a Lesbian ,that would make better sense . What in the heck does he know about anything concerning women . He can't even use his real name , he has to steal one from a celebrity because he is a nobody in a who gives a crap entertainment world .He's a loser and should do something about his appearance instead of scoffing a contestant because she doesn't believe what he believes . Gay people are the first to fight for sharing their thoughts , but heaven forbid that anyone should espouse their own beliefs. In the real world ,we don't give a rat's ass about being politically correct!
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Steve
12:03PM 12:03PM Apr 21st 2009
GAY-NAZI'S; THEIR SCARY
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CM89
3:37AM 3:37AM Apr 21st 2009
Author mis-quoted Miss. California. Author obviously biased against gays. Terrible story. Care to try again?
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WowSeriously?
4:02AM 4:02AM Apr 21st 2009
"It is hypocritical to fight for freedom of speech and freedom of expression if one has no tolerance for those with opposing views, and I am deeply concerned by the gay rights movement's overall decision post-Prop 8 to begin blacklisting political opponents out of anger and vengefulness." Are you fucking kidding me? Gay activists fighting for a RIGHT THEY ALREADY HAD. That should be in no way shape or forum be voted on by ANYONE. You homophobes need to use your fucking brain, if there was a vote to remove everyones rights to own a gun fuck yeah people would be FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT THEY ALREADY HAVE. Just like the gays did in California. Open your eyes you fucking dip shits. I cant be civil with ignorant fucks they never understand anyway.
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Gummdrop
10:39AM 10:39AM Apr 21st 2009
I am sick of you gays pushing your agenda down everyones thoats. God ordained marriage between a man and a woman, it is not ment for two men or two woman . You want to legitimize your sick twisted life style.
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Rachel
11:14PM 11:14PM Apr 21st 2009
Thank you very much. I am sick and tired of hearing that marriage is defined as the union of a man and a woman. If this is true then MARRIAGE must be abolished as it is a discriminatory institution aimed to exclude TAXPAYING PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. Instead the only unions that should be recognized by the government should be civil. ANY TWO ADULT people can then have a LEGALLY recognized union that entitles them to all the protections allowed spousal partners by law. Then if a couple want to be MARRIED they can have that ceremony performed by the clergy person of their choice. Period.
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homogenius
4:53PM 4:53PM Apr 22nd 2009
Blacklisting? Are you kidding me? It was the Prop 8 supporters who wrote businesses who had contributed against Prop 8 threatening to boycott them if they didn't send them a donation. That's right--the pro-Prop 8 group was trying to extort donations from gay-friendly businesses BEFORE the election.
Pot, meet kettle.
And for all the supporters of "the 5,000-year-old definition of marriage", I say let's go for it! Let's bring back traditional Old Testament marriage--fathers selling daughters to husbands, women as chattal, polygamy, concubines, marrying your brother's widow, incest, the whole enchilada. Oh, and don't forget--Jesus condemned divorce.
Miss California deserved to lose. As a Californian, I'm just sorry she represents us.
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Star P
5:00AM 5:00AM Apr 21st 2009
That isn't fair...
Other contestants would probably said
the same thing too. Asking
that question is the dumbest thing to do.
It isn't her fault she was raise that way.
What he wants her to do, LIE?
Perez, kiss my hind.
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Star P
5:03AM 5:03AM Apr 21st 2009
Gay men, what is so GREAT about sucking a penis? What is it about the stupid looking dick??? Huh?
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John padrick murry
8:33PM 8:33PM Apr 23rd 2009
You are right the judge is a gay and they do not like if you give your opinion of thier life style i do not like gays policial correct to them is a lot of bullshit.
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John padrick murry
11:11PM 11:11PM May 1st 2009
you are right i would have a woman in my bed.
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Star P
5:03AM 5:03AM Apr 21st 2009
She should have won, that isn't fair.
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Cecil Jones
7:33AM 7:33AM Apr 21st 2009
Who in the heck decided to allow that "Fat Bastard" Perez Hilton to ask a question or judge a "Beauty Contest?" When was the last time he was with a woman and I think the last sex act he performed was with a blow up doll. As far as the question was concerned, Miss California gave a great answer after she stumbled like Oprah's Miss USA contestant. We all should have the right to be miserable united by our love, but it's not a marriage made in Heaven. Give the "Civil Unions" a name like "Glatrimony" and be done with this bickering and foolishness. Take away all benefits offered on the basis of who or what you do in the bedroom and let the Homosexuals and Lesbians be just as miserable as the Heterosexuals. Miss California didn't lose because of her answer or Perez. She lost because "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Anyone in that contest could have won and deserved the honor. Who judges these contests must be seriously reconsidered. It's never about the judges now is it? Perez needs to pay a price for gloating about the B word and the C word. I'd say, "No check for you."
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