Miss Calif. Gets Warm Reception At Church

Carrie Prejean: State Sponsors Advised Her To Apologize For Comments On Gay Marriage, She Refused

(AP)  Miss California Carrie Prejean, who became the bombshell of the Miss USA pageant by saying gay couples should not be allowed to marry, said Sunday that her state sponsors urged her to apologize afterward but she rejected the advice.

Prejean, 21, said officials from the Miss California USA pageant were worried that her comments would cost their contest financial backing and tried to prepare her for a string of post-pageant media interviews by discouraging her from discussing her religious beliefs.

"`You need to apologize to the gay community. You need to not talk about your faith. This has everything to do with you representing California and saving the brand,"' Prejean recalled being told. "I was representing California. I was representing the majority of people in California."

She offered her version of the tense hours following the April 19 Miss USA pageant while appearing at the San Diego megachurch that has helped shape her views. The Rock Church, founded by former San Diego Chargers defensive back Miles McPherson, was active in the campaign to pass a constitutional ban on gay marriages in California last year.

Prejean, who was named first runner-up to Miss North Carolina and will remain Miss California until November, has spent the last week defending her comments, made during the pageant's final round. They came in response to celebrity blogger Perez Hilton's question about legalizing same-sex marriage.

"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," she said. "And you know what? I think in my country, 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."

Hilton, who is gay, stoked the 30-second exchange the next day when he cursed the beauty queen on his blog and suggested her response may have cost Prejean the Miss USA crown.

Officials from K2 Productions, which produces the Miss California USA pageant, did not immediately return a phone call Sunday from The Associated Press seeking to verify Prejean's account.

The San Diego Christian College junior, model and member of the San Diego Padres "Pad Squad" received a heroine's welcome from fellow members of the Rock, where she was the guest of honor at morning services. Seated onstage across from McPherson, she recalled resisting multiple opportunities - from her appearance on NBC's "Today" show to a performance with Miss USA pageant owner Donald Trump - to edit, explain or expound upon her remarks.

"I knew I had to stay true to my beliefs and not let them intimidate me into taking back what I said because I don't take back what I said," she said.

Rashad Robinson, media programs director for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said Prejean's honesty would have been admirable if, in frankly expressing her opinion, she hadn't misspoke.

"Contrary to Miss California's claim, people can't choose, gay and lesbian couples don't have a choice except in a handful of states," Robinson said. "In her extensive public platform since then, she hasn't clarified that, she hasn't walked back from what are clearly misstatements."

Because the contestant's scores are supposed to be kept secret, it may never be known whether Prejean would have won had she not drawn Hilton's question. Trump has said one part of the pageant would not have decided the outcome. Other pageant veterans, however, say that based on her standing as first runner-up, low scores from one judge would have been enough to cost Prejean the title.

Besides Hilton, at least two more of the pageant's dozen judges have said Prejean should have given a more politic, if not politically correct, answer to avoid offending anyone and that it was her lack of tact, not her opposition to same-sex marriage, that ruffled feathers.

"I do not fault her for her beliefs. I fault her for her complete lack of social grace, and that's a quality I want my Miss USA to possess," judge Alicia Jacobs, a former Miss Nevada, wrote on her blog.

Others, though, have applauded Prejean for her forthrightness. The other four finalists were asked whether they would speak out against domestic violence, favor using taxpayer money to bail out corporations, give immigrants access to health care and help fund elections in Afghanistan.

"A question like that is not relevant in a platform such as the Miss USA pageant. It's far too political and it's divisive as well," said Kenya Moore, the 1993 Miss USA who was one of the judges that named Prejean Miss California in November. "Half of the audience is going to agree and half is not, no matter what she said. It's a no-win situation."

As for Prejean, there is still the possibility she could go on to become Miss USA if winner Kristen Dalton wins the Miss Universe pageant this summer. Meanwhile, she plans to continue making the public appearances that comes with her Miss California USA duties.

On Thursday, she received a standing ovation while presenting an award at the Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards in Nashville, but said, "up in Hollywood, I'm not sure what their reaction would be to my showing up at a movie premiere."

She said she would be willing to meet with representatives from California's largest gay rights group "as long as it's not political."

If anything, Prejean has solidified her stance in the last week. McPherson, who preaches against homosexuality, has been acting as her adviser and encouraging her to use her newfound fame to persuade other evangelical Christians to share their views, even if they are unpopular.

"I learned that God has a bigger crown than any man can give you," she said.

[perezflu]

aj4321 you're a dumb *******. go on your computer and study about hell. then see that YOUR NAME is on that list. God...you're a dumb ****.
You created the seven deadly sins...you have lust and vanity. Look in the mirror NOW at your ugly face.
I can't stand dumb people. I now have a new name for the swine flu and I'm calling CBS to report you for giving me the PEREZ FLU. Stop spreading it around! Your causing an epidemic. Now...go study and educate yourself you dumb ass.

[paddyhayes]

Those who seek hardest to demonstrate their holiness succeed only in proving their a$$-hole-iness.

[ladypirate2]

sbraithwaite: Every word you said is true! I completely agree with you! Liberals sream for and demand respect but they don't want to give it in return. Perez Hilton was definitely out of line and should be never allowed to judge a beauty pageant again! Miss Prejean acted like a lady and didn't ridicule or call anyone names. Perez Hilton is no gentleman though and he has ridiculed her and called her names! He is also the one spouting hate! It's not Miss Prejean! She has taken the high road and has acted like a a lady since all of this began! I don't imagine Perez Hilton's parents are really proud of him about now but it's probably their fault! He is showing a very large flaw in his upbringing! His parents didn't obviously didn't discipline him and didn't teach him respect. In fact I don't think they taught him anything!

[ladypirate2]

davidjones11: You are WRONG! You are the one who's spouting hate! You hate those of us who stand up for Christian morals and have the courage to speak out for what's right! You are right about one thing. God did make people but he also blessed marriage and the marriage bed but he DID NOT bless marriage between people of the same sex. The Holy Bible makes it very clear about what a marriage is. It is the union of a man and a woman. Sex between two men or two women is an ABOMINATION! Also yes in many ways I would like to go back to the "dark days of humanity" when most people had morals and principles and people actually took the time to teach their children right from wrong and didn't teach them that anything goes or that everything should be tolerated!

[keithle1]

Most of these contestants in these American beauty pageants are curiously sexless. American women seem determined to look identical. No one has any individual style.
Bland & boring. All they know how to do is smile. Please, do NOT ask them any questions other than where the expensive restaurants are. You can find sexier women on Spanish-language tv channels. Foreign women are sexier.

[hwy71so]

WHAT qualifies a gay male to judge the Miss USA contest? Isn't that the same as putting a PETA freak as a judge for the Boone and Crocket or Pope and Young clubs?

What a punk this fruit (Hilton) is.

[Meg003]

Barack Obama opposes against gay marriage. IObama said, "I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman."

Is he Carrie Prejean's role model?

[excoachken]

Phony Chick (Implants, capped teeth) in a phony contest (who cares anyway) realizing she has no chance to win and decides to make her "career move" by playing the "religious nut case" card. Maybe God will place a crown on the bimbo airhead. At any rate, she'll turn it into some big bucks which was her motivation for putting her body parts (the best cosmetic surgery could supply) on public display. What a great American (insert puking sound effect here).

[ladypirate2]

saturn05: No, what is a slap in the face of our forefathers is Perez Hilton penalizing her for giving an answer that he didn't like or agree with! The constitution gives her the right to have her opinion and to voice it if she wants to. It is called freedom of speech. You don't have to agree with her, that is your right. She also has a right to agree or not to agree with you, too!

[aj4321-2009]

This is what I don't get - isn't she automatically going to hell for participating in a contest that promotes some of the seven deadly sins like lust and vanity?

[sbraithwaite]

It is disgusting for your network to have a judge who asks a question and then resorts to name calling when the answer he receives does not match his opinion. Respect of others is a two way street and THE JUDGE is out of line! Conservative Americas do not expect endorsement of its views, but the same respect isn't true of liberals. The contestant didn't name call or ridicule anyone like YOUR JUDGE did! Your network falls into the trash bin at this household for its failure to have a standard of respect for differing opinions.

[saturn05]

Her personal opinion doesn't matter in this case. When she says she represents the majority of Californians, well there wasn't exactally a landslide on Prop hate. Anyway, you cannot take away human and civil rights because of a vote. That is a slap in the face of our fore-fathers.

[avigil2]

While I applaud Miss California's honesty, she truly didn't answer Perez Hilton's question appropriately. He didn't ask for her own personal opinion, he asked whether or not every state should legalize same sex marriage after Vermont's legalization. So her answer should have been more on a broader sense and she totally personalized it. When she said, "... in my country and in my family...". Well, what other country would she be talking about?

[takeastandforHim]

Wow, finally someone who is willing to take and put what is right in front of what might have been. Carrie Prejean boldly placed herself on the line to tell the truth instead of what everyone wanted to hear. Some may say the Carrie is a loser because she did not take the crown but in the long race we c all life she is the biggest winner. There should never be a compromise in your beliefs especially when that belief has a solid foundation. When Perez Hilton found that he could not press his agenda in this forum it became very apparent that he was the true intolerant one and not Carrie. Thanks you Carrie for taking your stand and showing me that I too need to take a stand too. Man created man and woman along with marriage and defined just how it all works. If it is good enough for God then who am I to question it. Maybe the judges of the Miss USA pageant believe they are smarter than God but I?ll follow Carrie?s example and stand for what is righteousness.

[DoubleHappiness88]

Although Carrie Prejean is only an ameture exhibitionist, she is entitled to her opinion.
I think, however, we should wait for the opinion of a professional exhitionist, like Britney Spears.Although Carrie Prejean is only an amateur exhibitionist, she is entitled to her opinion.

I think, however, we should wait for the opinion of a PROFESSIONAL exhibitionist like Britney Spears.

Carrie Prejean seems astounded that the producers of the contest would take offense.
Obviously she has not noticed how many of them are gay.

[berniew4]

hOW COME NOONEsaysWHAT hILTON CALLED mISS caL ON nATIONAL TELEVISION ??

[Stop_the_crying]

Miss California is truly # 2, if not dead last for her comments. Oh my another RED Faced dumb blond.

[ladypirate2]

wayne1960: You are right! Perez Hilton is one of the spoiled brats that I spoke about in one of my other comments. He is used to getting his own way about everything and he can't stand it when someone disagrees with him. He throws a tantrum like a two or three year old child. He needs to learn that when you ask for someone's opinion you might not hear something that you agree with and not everyone is going to agree with him! He wanted her to act like some kind of robot and give out a scripted answer that she didn't really believe in. Miss California, though, is not a robot. She is a human being with thoughts and opinions of her own. It was a stupid question that shouldn't have been allowed in the first place, but he asked for her opinion and he got it. She should not have been penalized for her answer. I applaud her for standing up for her principles!

[iDragon13]

It was a stupid question asked by a stupid person of a stupid person. If you're offended by any part of this you are just as stupid.

[ladypirate2]

What ever happened to the days when all of the finalists in beauty pageants were asked the same question and each girl was held in a sound proof booth until it was her turn to answer the question? It should be that way again and the people who make the rules for beauty pageants should decree that this type of questiion is never allowed again!