Miss California was Raised to Believe 'Opposite Marriage' is the Way to Go

Although I think it's pretty ridiculous to expect a beauty queen to give an intelligent answer in a 30 second time span, everyone sure was cringing at Miss California's (Carrie Prejean) answer to Perez Hilton's question about gay marriage.

In a shocking display of beauty pageant foreshadowing, the following trail of events happened:

Miss California reaches into the "crystal bowl" to randomly retrieve the card with the number of the judge who would be asking her question.

"Your question comes from judge number 8, Perez Hilton," host Billy Bush reads off the card.

"Are we worried?" co-host Nadine Velazquez asks, referring to the Hollywood gossip writer's "say anything" approach to everything.

Miss California laughs and shakes her head.

"You should be," Hilton says ominously. He is obviously joking. The audience laughs along with Miss California and the hosts.

The camera goes to Hilton, who is smiling and laughing and he begins, "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage." We hear some approving hoots and hollers from the audience. Miss California is still smiling politely. He continues, "Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?"

Miss California barely misses a beat: "Well, I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. 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 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 it should be between a man and a woman. Thank you."

The cheers in the audience are actually louder than the boos. I didn't even notice the boos until I read about them later.

When the camera turns back to Hilton, he is very obviously not pleased with her answer.

While I don't share Miss California's beliefs, I do think it was pretty brave of her to voice her opinion to a gay judge, understanding that what she said might not help her win the crown. At least, I'm assuming she understood this. Maybe she had no idea that Perez Hilton was gay.

Does anyone remember Miss Hawaii ten or so years ago? I can't for the life of me remember which pageant it was or which year it was, but it was around the time a judge in Hawaii ruled that the state may not ban same-sex marriages.

One of the judges asked Miss Hawaii how she felt about this happening in her home state. Miss Hawaii giggled into the microphone, and the first words out of her mouth were something along the lines of "I think it's gross."

I remember watching this with my older sister who said, "She just made a huge mistake. Doesn't she realize how many gay men watch these pageants?"

I'm shocked that I'm unable to find any information on the Internet about Miss Hawaii's incident, especially after this whole hoopla. But then again, her statement barely made the general public bat an eye back then. You were in the minority if the comment offended you.

I don't agree with what Miss California said. Because in my country...oh, I mean my family...I was raised to be progressive, compassionate and non-judgmental. My parents never walked around tight-lipped and snotty, acting like they were superior and more honorable because they were in a heterosexual marriage.

I've never understood the "marriage should be between a man and a woman" argument anyway. In my humble opinion, dear readers, anyone who has ever truly been in love would never be against any kind of marriage between two consenting adults. And I think Jesus would agree.

Gay Marriage Is Allowed by Hawaii Court; Trial Judge Says Ban Fails Key Test Under State Constitution

Miss California sharing her opinion