Carrie Prejean, Let's Talk About Milk
Let's all wish Carrie Prejean a Happy Birthday. Miss California USA turns 22 today, and thanks to a garbled pageant answer on national television and the support of the National Organization for Marriage, she's poised to become the new Anita Bryant before she hits 23. God help us all.
Last week I watched the movie Milk for the first time. It was a little overdue, I know, especially because I rooted for Sean Penn throughout the Oscar season never having seen his performance. I just didn't want Mickey Rourke to win for some reason.
I was happy to discover that I definitely rooted for the right guy. Sean Penn is Harvey Milk, in all his honest, unabashed and unapologetic glory. The actor's face has become fused in my mind with the real Harvey Milk's, seared in my memory long ago by the 1980s documentary The Times of Harvey Milk. But what really made me sit up straight watching the film last week was not Sean Penn's performance, but the incredible footage interspersed throughout the film of that hellraiser Anita Bryant.
I wonder if Carrie Prejean has heard of Anita Bryant. Maybe I'm wrong in assuming that the current Miss California USA has not seen the film about the first openly gay elected official in the United States, and that she does not know much about the history of the gay rights struggle in her home state and country over the course of the last century. She may not recognize the similarities between herself and Ms. Bryant, the Evangelical Christian, Oklahoma-born singer and Florida orange juice spokeswoman, who is most famous for her tireless 1977 fight to save children from the threat of being taught by homosexual teachers. Anita became a symbol. Utterly confident in her own moral rectitude and superiority, she circled the country, campaigning on a platform of Christian virtue and warning the masses that because homosexuals could not have children, they would "recruit your own."
Carrie Prejean was born ten years after Anita broke onto the scene, and nine years after the assassination of Harvey Milk. She was raised in an evangelical household in California, and her parents divorced when she was only a year old. During the Miss USA pageant, as everyone knows by now, she answered Perez Hilton's question on gay marriage by saying, "Well I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one way or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. You know what, in my country, in my family, I do 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 I believe that it should be between a man and a woman." I give her points for two things: first, despite coining the interesting term "opposite marriage," she is far more eloquent than Miss Teen USA South Carolina 2007 of "Such as..." fame. Second, unlike Anita Bryant, she doesn't seem particularly threatened by homosexuals. She just doesn't really think they deserve the same rights her parents took for granted when they got married.
No beauty queen has attracted so much attention since Vanessa Williams posed nude. (Of course it turns out Carrie has also posed nude, but Donald Trump says it's OK.) Perez Hilton called her response "the worst answer in pageant history." The vampiric National Organization for Marriage has jumped on her story, using her as a symbol of the intolerance of the gay marriage movement. Her sparkling smile is plastered across their website, and she appears in an ad only slightly less silly than "The Gathering Storm." NOM President Maggie Gallagher has praised her, saying she is a blameless victim of "character assassination" and holding her aloft as a soldier in the fight against fear and intolerance.
Like Anita Bryant, however, Carrie Prejean is completely intolerant of differing opinions herself. Unlike the tough-skinned Bryant, she seems genuinely hurt and offended by the criticism leveled at her. At a tearful press conference with Mr. Trump yesterday to address her nude photos (picture Anita Bryant infamously being hit with a banana cream pie), Prejean thanked those who had stood by her during her difficult month of infamy and instafame, citing the First Amendment in all sorts of confused contexts. On Monday she played to her base on Christian radio, saying that when Hilton asked the question, "I felt as though Satan was trying to tempt me in asking this question. And then God was in my head and in my heart saying: 'Do not compromise this. You need to stand up for Me and you need to share with all these people...you need to witness to them.'"
It's been an eventful month for the 22-year-old. But as NOM's Gallagher says in her defense, "you don't have to be a perfect person to have the right to stand up for marriage." Amen. But if she decides to remain in the public eye over the coming months (and I think we all know the answer to that) Ms. Prejean would do well to educate herself on the history of her home state. She might even want to take a brief look at Milk and think about how her legacy will hold up over the long haul. It is not the hero of that movie she resembles. No offense intended.
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I find it interesting that Miss. Wainwright saved her pejorative "VAMPIRIC" to describe the National Organization for Marriage even when she had the notorious Hollywood $hit-shoveller and gay-baiter "Perez Hilton" in her word processer the VERY sentence prior.
Anyone with an objective mind can tell by the tone of the discussions on the NOM site vs. the Perez Hilton site, who the 'vampiric' are.
This begs the question - does Wainwright fail to detect this because she merely believes that 'bloodsucker' is just part of Mr. Hilton's job description - or is it a case of being able to tolerate a pile of ¢rap under your nose as long as there's the faintest whiff of political familliarity?
It's remarkable, but it seems nobody can take criticism or disapproval anymore. They all expect to be validated every time they open their mouths and spew out some "true to myself" bullsnot. If you want to be a beauty queen you need to have poise and class and the good sense to know when and how to be diplomatic versus sharing your inner convictions (you evidently also need to have a fake tan, fake teeth, fake breasts, fake hair, and a history of youthful indiscretions, but i digress). However, if you are--oh, I don't know-- a plumber, for example, you can traipse around the country spreading verbal diarrhea without shame. But the rules are different for beauty queens. They are ambassadors (of what, I'm not really clear). Nobody expects you to endorse something you don't agree with, but a good ambassador must learn the art of the graceful verbal dodge. Instead Ms. Prejean took that bait like a hungry marlin. She started out with a seemingly diplomatic answer and then screwed it up at the end. Girl couldn't help herself. Being confrontational or controversial may feel good in a "I dare you to push back so I can conveniently claim I was only being true to my beliefs and now you are persecuting me" kind of way, but it's bad form and shows a lack of breeding and manners.
I love how this one good response by a young woman has gotten so many knickers into a twist.
I love how it's put same-sex marriage front and center, especially at a time when support is growing and states are starting to legalize it.
I'm an Atheist but I believe even beauty queens have a right to their opinion, even obnoxious opinions. If we are not careful, one day we will not allow any personality, politician, or celebrity have an opinion that could possibly offend anyone. Although the left is striving for that, they seem to forget that they too could be the ones forbidden to have an opinion.
Homosexuals cannot make a baby without help from the opposite sex. Babies should not have to grow up in a home in which there is no parent of the same gender; i.e., "two mommies" automatically means "no daddy." That's not fair to a little boy who intrinsically needs to pattern himself after his dad. Same with little girls. It's too sad if they can never go to their mom with questions about personal stuff when they have "two daddies." It's not right and that's my problem with gay marriage. Civil unions provide all the legal protections anybody needs, but that's not what gay rights activists are after.
Babies should not have to grow up in homes without two parents to model themselves after...
If they can't be raised by two parents of the opposite sex, FAR better to let them rot in a warehouse or something waiting for foster parents.
Single parents should either pair off (like the Brady's) or put their kids in a basket and float them down the river in the hopes of being rescued by a nuclear family.
As of this year, 40% of children of Heterosexuals are now raised in single parent homes, I can only ask you what you are thinking with a statement like that, TopTigerette.
Perhaps you should focus your efforts in THAT arena, if that is TRULY what 'concerns' you regarding this issue.
Really, really lame.
With 40% of children living in single parent homes as of 2009, one would think that you might start dealing with THAT, if that is TRULY your concern in this matter.
Something tells me it is not your true concern here.
Civil unions are not equal to marriage. You are obviously don't know anything about this subject.
Children are irrelevant when it comes to the subject of marriage. Marriage and child bearing/rearing are treated as separate issues in the U.S. If they weren't, infertile couples would not be allowed to marry, and single parents would not be entitled to governmental benefits.
Gay people who want to have children will have them regardless of whether or not they can be married. If you were *truly* interested in the welfare of children, you'd be supporting same-sex marriage.
have anyone ever notice that NOW et al only support left leaning liberal women?
Ah Ms WAinwright you would be advise to do Your research on What Harvey Milk believed in as far as gay marriage. He believed that gay/lesbians should have a lifestyle union of their own, not the one labeled as heterosexual marriage is. For a sect of America that suppose to believe in free speech and opinions, which she gave without any hint of hate, all of you are intolerant of others viewpoints. Harvey Milk was not the only one murdered on that day, and Dan White didn't kill because Milk was gay.
Prop 8 did not pass, stop whinning about it.
Question:
National Organization of Marriage, what do they think the biggest threat to the institution of marriage is?
is it a few eager homosexuals who want to feel the same joy, or is it the moral vaccum in the institution itself that results in >50% divorce and countless emotionally damaged young children who are exposed to daily yelling and screaming.
Having been raised in a traditional marriage family myself, I can tell you that my self-confidence took an early hit and never quite recovered. I do not blame my parents for that because they were the product of their own environment as well.
All I am saying is that someone is genuinely interested in protecting marriage, they ought to focus on making the traditional one work, before expanding their mandate. More likely, the NOM and countless other fanatic/re
If I were gay, I personally wouldn't want to jump on the bandwagon of "marriage" because I would not want to jump on a sinking ship. More likely, A gay civil union with all the legal ramification of marriage would be a more classy and successful way to go. Let the dimwits such as Ms. Gallagher and similiar hypocritical Bible-thumping idiots run the agenda for their shrinking base.
I
And it's funny how Palin is attracted to drama filled attention.
It's funny how all of the Prejean and Palin fans can only talk about the gay marriage comments. That isn't the only thing that people have against Prejean. She posed for nude photos, lied in her contract, lied about when the photos were taken, and still kept that crown.
Does 1984 Miss USA pageant ring a bell?
Nude photos....
I can care less about her views on gay marriage. It is the lying that I care about.
I suspect that it was the gay marriage thing that let her keep her job. Had she gotten some other question, she'd've been jettisoned.
but I think those other issues are more about what is so sick and lurid about the pagents than about this somewhat bubbleheaded young woman who is something of a victim of the hypocrisy of this america. she had wonderful breasts before the surgery and now they ring the right bells of being what we have been told to like- large and unnaturally hard. her opinions are similarly unhealthy canned ones that gain approval for ringing the right bells. form over substance any day for the right,
Not that it matters at all, aloha43, but Vanessa Williams was Miss America. It seems like a minor detail but they are two totally different groups run by different people with different rules.
Did you actually see Vanessa Williams' pictures? There were soft porn. Come on. It was a different time. And the pictures weren't dug up, they were published with a legal release in hand. They were shocking at the time.
The party she has the contract with isn't outraged or mad so why are you?. How is it Trump put it? --"lovely"
Ms. Prejean has every right to her opinion and to express it. I have every right to mine. I am a retired Army Master Sergeant, gay. living with my long-term partner. I disagree with her opinion; I'm sure she disagrees with mine. That's all fine - as it should be. I also disagree with the vile video Perez Hilton posted ...... once again, his opionion, although I personally think he went too far.
I may very well get along with Ms. Prejean. She obviously is a beautiful and intelligent woman. We can agree to disagree without becoming obnoxious.
J
I'll buy the beautiful part (though she did NOT need the boob job); as for intelligent? I'll reserve comment since I've never had a chance to talk with her one on one.
Apparently you and your long term partner don't have a burning desire to get married. Because I don't think you'd be so accepting of Prejean's opinion if it along with those she wants to influence would keep you from having the same equal rights she can enjoy. Now tell me what would you have in common with someone who wants to deprive you of your rights as a citizen in a Country you served and pay taxes in. How overly generous you are with your and your communities civil rights.
YES! What Klandish said!
Considering that the Miss America Pageant has seen declining viewership for many years now, does anyone else think that this whole issue was fabricated just to get people talking about (and hopefully viewing) the pageant?
Donald Trump owns it, so that probably answers my question. I wonder when the pageant will start requiring fake boobs in order to participate.
This whole issue is so damn stupid it's beyond belief.
But not jettisoning her alienates a key demo of what little viewership already remained. He'll have to send it to cable or pay-per-view just to break even on it.
Agreed, but the Donald is bankrupt, so obviously his business acumen leaves something to be desired anyway, right?
Ms Joe-the-Prejean is another nobody, and I can't say anything about that.
What I CAN say is that I never met Harvey Milk - but Sean Penn made both of them beautiful.
Clever pun...but yes, if you don't have the "correct" opinion, you are a "nobody." Only one of the reasons I left the liberal/democrats is the elitism that is everywhere in evidence -- including this post (oh, but it has the word "beautiful in it...). It's so ironic, how you wish silence from anyone who does not share your view or background, unless they are one of the chosen groups. I would say: think about it, but I'd be wasting my time....
As opposed to not having YOUR opinion, in which case you don't have RIGHTS.
Whine to someone who not only cares, but is stupid enough to believe the predator crying "victim!" of intolerance. If you weren't trying to kick me and my equal rights to the curb, genius, I wouldn't give a darn what your opinion is--DUH. So, when you punch someone, do you cry to mommy when they defend themselves or, god forbid, fight back?
I remember Ted Bundy did the same thing right before they executed him. "You are disrespecting me--waaaa!"
I don't think that stating her views on national TV on a regular basis counts as being silenced. I hear this whine on the right all the time: "You lefties are so intolerant. You want to silence anyone who disagrees with you." Um, no. But we reserve the right to disagree, boo, mock, present counter arguments, think some opinions are morally wrong, etc. Even loudly.
Free speech is NOT about having people agree with you. Free speech is NOT about not having to deal with social pressure when you say dumb things. Free speech IS about not getting put in jail or otherwise persecuted by the government for stating your thoughts or opinions. As Ms Prejean remains free and untouched by the government, her right to free speech has not been encumbered.
I support Ms Prejean's right to continue to make an ass of herself.
It always comes down to liberalism, sexism, elitism (Mustard comes to mind), when it comes to a person having a different opinion than the far right.
Maybe you ARE wasting your time......
She lost the big title but was just opportunistic enough to the take the next high profile position offered to her. Who says "no offense to anyone" and then goes on the offense against those she didn't want to offend in the first place. I tell you who - a not very bright, hurt, angry and ambitious young lady who flagrantly fibbed her way past some semi-nude photos and gave a revisionist story to a hard core "Christians" crowd on how she was in a conscious battle with the Devil when answering a question she didn't even have the facts "straight" on. The Donald is right about one thing - if she wasn't so pretty we wouldn't even be talking about this (her). But Donald along with much of the Nation has once again forgotten the old adage "Beauty is as beauty does".
all this constantly battling absolutes on every little battle ground can be so tiring.
Perez Hilton went off on an, irrational hateful vendetta.
Perez Hilton is no gay rights leader, he uses the mantra of "gay rights" to justify his warped, insane, intolerant hatreds!
He is mad about all the good looking popular kids in high school who laughed at him, and it's warped, misguided anger!
He has done more harm to 'gay rights' with his insane, vulgar behavior.
Honey, most of the successful people today were mad at all the good-looking popular kids in high school who laughed at them. Do you really think that Bill Gates got to where he is today without spending some time trapped in his own locker with the mother of all wedgies?
This does no harm to gay rights in the long run. The 24-hour news cycle will find something new to freak out about. She'll be supplanted by a new It Girl. Perez will continue being Perez, because his success isn't based on preening for the camera.
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