When Perez Hilton, judge No. 8, asked, “Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?” Miss California, Carrie Prejean, responded so grossly that audience members booed.
She said, “Well I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. 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, in, 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.”
She later defended her answer in several interviews. When Matt Lauer asked the prejudiced ditz about her comments, Prejean said, “The way that I answered it, you know, might have been offensive to people, and I said “˜and no offense to anybody.’ I did not want to offend anybody. But I think with that question specifically, uh, it’s not about being politically correct. For me, it was about being Biblically correct.”
She proceeded to explain how she had answered, “From my heart, from my beliefs, and, and for my God.” She became her own hero, saying, “I am so proud of myself and I have so many people that are so proud of me, and um, it wasn’t what God wanted for my life that night.”
However, Prejean isn’t a martyr. And her views don’t represent the views of all Californians.
Perez Hilton, a California resident and an active member in the gay rights movement, was mortified by her response. In an interview with MSNBC, Hilton said Prejean’s answer “alienated millions of gays and lesbians and their family, their friends, and supporters.” He also later commented about his video blog that followed the crowning, saying, “I called her the B-word, and hey, I was thinking the C-word.”
Hilton is completely justified in his reaction. When Proposition 8 passed in November, many Californians, including myself, were devastated.
Religious institutions backed the measure and forced their beliefs onto the state. Unfortunately for them, this fight is not over. Passing the ban on marriage isn’t going to stop gay couples from being together.
In fact, the protests that Proposition 8 incited actually bonded the gay activist community and made them stronger.
Conservative talk show hosts backed her bigotry. Sean Hannity of Fox News praised Prejean’s stance on the marriage debate. When she spoke on his show about the Miss USA competition, she said, “Something inside of me said, “˜Carrie, stand up for what you believe in and say how what you feel and represent the majority of California. You’re Miss California. The majority of voters believe that marriage is, is, is between a man and a woman and, and (shrugs).”
Brilliant answer, Carrie. But really? California is a Democratic state and Proposition 8 was an extremely close race. Although the majority of the voters voted yes, should the proposition go up for vote again, the results may be different due to the reaction it and the release of the movie “Milk,” based on gay senator Harvey Milk, caused.
When Hannity asked Prejean about Perez Hilton’s video blog, she said, “Um, you know, I forgive him. I know that he’s angry for whatever reason. I know there must be a bigger issue going on in his life. Um, it just so happens that I’m used in this way and I’m, I’m just so glad that I’m used in this way. I’m so happy. I’m so blessed. I’m happy to be here and, and I’m filled with joy. I really am.”
I think the reason Hilton is angry is because Prejean’s answer promoted discriminating against gay couples and the bigger issue in his life is that he and his friends and family have been affected by the court decision to ban same-sex marriage.
That and Fox News is taking on Prejean as one of their talking heads.
Prejean wasn’t “used in this way” or placed on Earth in God’s divine plan to save America. I’m not a religious theologian, but I’m pretty sure she’s not the Messiah.
If you want to call Prejean the C-word instead of the B-word, then e-mail Jagerman at njagerman@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.