Beauty Pageant Drama
So, I've been under a rock and didn't know much about the whole Miss USA debacle until recently. Color me surprised when I found out it involved Perez Hilton, the diva blogger that has made a name for himself out of drawing obscenities on pictures of celebrities in MS Paint, asking a serious question.
If you're like me and live under rocks, here's a lowdown of what happened at the Miss USA pageant. Miss California, or Carrie Prejean, went up to the podium during the Questions round of the pageant and drew Perez Hilton as her questioner. A video of what happened after the jump.
There's been a huge uproar about this all across various media - TV news, YouTube, and Twitter are all abuzz about whether or not Miss California was treated unfairly as a result of her answer (she ended the competition as first runner-up). Frankly? I don't think that we should immediately leap on Miss California because of her remarks.
Yeah, she said something that was a little stupid - especially in the current climate. As I'm sure Amy, my fellow Campus Q Team member, can attest to, marriage is a very touchy subject what with the whole Prop 8 debacle this past year. However, as much as I may dislike her opinion, I don't think that she shouldn't have the right to express it. I'm of the mind that when we face people who are on that side of the marriage debate, it's just another sign that we have more work to do. What we should be doing instead of yelling at Miss California and calling her a bigot is taking the opportunity to educate more people. Encourage a Stop the Hate training for your campus. Hold a roundtable discussion on same-sex marriage and invite people from various religious faiths to speak. Use these occasions of ignorance to spread more education instead of wallowing in your anger at the problem.
Hopefully this was a good first post for you all - this blog's so exciting, can't wait to hear from everyone!
3 comments
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I'm not Perez's biggest fan
I'm not Perez's biggest fan either, but I think it was a decent question, particularly since she is Miss California. I believe in her right to her opinion. My issue with her stems from how inarticulate and inaccurate she was. The cool thing that came from this though has been seeing all the celebs tweet their approval of gay marriage :-). I mean, it probably doesn't mean much, but it's still nice to see.
The FACT IS...
Sadly, the anti-gay religious conservatives are using Perez Hilton against the LGBT community. You are exactly right. And Perez is using this incident to catapult his own self -- Shocker! Perez is loud, obnoxious, sexist and just stupid. He demonstrated his arrogance in his video response after the fact. He does not represent the LGBT community and should be shunned for his divisive remarks.
Now, let me clarify though... I believe Miss California should not have won the Miss USA pageant. It is not because she didn’t agree with same sex marriage. I know several people (many friends) who share her views. The reason she lost was that her response was not accurate, confusing and was bumbled in delivery of an articulate answer. She should have been more current with such topics and have an answer that was based on the current law. Let's get this straight: "Gays and lesbians do NOT have the right to marry -- except in four states Vermont, Iowa, Massachusetts and Connecticut." It is ironic since she comes from California that she would not have more knowledge on this issue. After the Proposition 8 battle in California where gays were denied the right to marriage, her statement that “we live in a land where you can choose same sex marriage or opposite marriage” is grossly false and misleading. It was that statement that upset me because there are many straight people (my friends) who think my partner and I can get married. Miss California has reinforced this falsehood and has told America that gays and lesbians have a right to marriage -- even though she thinks marriage is between a man and woman.
Instead of correcting Miss California's statement, the media has bit hook line and sinker onto the free speech argument that she was denied the title of Miss USA because of her belief that same sex marriage is wrong. Well what about giving facts and having accuracy in your answer to a question. I am sure the judges would want that from a potential Miss USA along with her opinion. The fact is that gays and lesbians do not have the right to marry in 46 states. Here is an example of what Miss California could have said and been accurate in her response:
"I am proud to live in the United States where we have the freedom of speech and the right to our beliefs. Our United States Constitution gives each State the right to define and recognize marriage. The issue is one that should be left to the people and the individual States in this country. The issue of gay marriage is one that is a hot topic and I realize there are mixed emotions on both sides of the debate. My personal belief is that marriage is between a man and a woman and I stand by that. Thank you for your question."
Even if she didn't say this, the key is that her response should at minimum portray what is true. This is not an issue of free speech. She lost Miss USA because she did not give an accurate answer that was coherent.
Sadly this has become all about Perez. Give him a Tiara and let's move on!
I'm on the other side of this
I'm on the other side of this debate. First off, I don't agree with Perez... ever. I kind of hate him with a passion. However, Miss California deserves a LOT of the backlash she's suffered, and here's why. It isn't that she disagrees with same sex marriage. Heck, even if I was straight I wouldn't be chasing that girl... she creeps me out a little. But , she specifically said we have the option to choose same sex or "opposite" marriage. No, we don't. That to me sent the message that we are very much invisible to her, she doesn't even realize what it is that we are fighting for. On top of that... opposite marriage? WTF is that? It just made her sound very ignorant and ditzy.
On another hand though, I do think this is very blown out of proportion. She's not a politician, she didn't win, and there's really no reason to care. I think it's only getting the attention it is because 1) Perez (surprise!) made an incendiary vlog, 2) Conservative Christians rushed to her side saying "the gays" are demonizing her, when a lot of heterosexuals were shocked at her as well, and 3) Now everyone's picking sides.
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