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When Beauty Queens Turn Ugly

Posted: 03/02/10 05:34 PM ET

What is it with anti-gay beauty queens?

You'd think these gals would appreciate the gay hairdressers, make-up artists and designers who give them their winning edge -- and often friendship.

First there was Anita Bryant, a 70's Miss America runner-up who campaigned so tirelessly against gay rights that she sparked a widespread boycott of the Florida orange juice she hawked on TV.

More recently, Miss USA runner-up Carrie Prejean blasted gay marriage. As a Christian, she just couldn't accept same-sex union. (But her religion didn't stop the pious princess from appearing in nude pictures and sex tapes, ultimately causing her crown to be yanked.)

Enter Lauren Ashley. This past week, Fox 411 interviewed "Miss Beverly Hills," and the conversation turned to gays. Lauren pulled a quote from Leviticus to suggest that God wants gays dead: "If man lies with mankind as he would lie with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death and their blood shall be upon them."

Look, we all know that the Bible can't be followed literally, even by Christians, because it's so self-contradictory. Leviticus also denounces shellfish and promotes slavery. Should we bring back slavery because it's in the Bible, Lauren? (... Um, could you repeat the question?)

I don't imagine that Miss Ashley's aware that the authors of Leviticus were nomadic tribes frightened that non-breeding homosexuals would threaten their clans' survival. (And at the time, Greece was considered the height of civilization. Homosexuality was institutionalized there!)

Cherry-picking scriptures is nothing new. What's odd about Lauren, however, is why Fox News interviewed her in the first place.

Beverly Hills, the city the Pasadena resident claimed to represent, has shunned her and expressed horror at her homophobic statements. But Fox wanted to interview this nobody (who -- sorry! -- isn't pretty enough to even place in a pageant) precisely because they wanted to promote a virulently anti-gay agenda. And they knew Lauren would be all too pleased to spout it -- probably eager to snatch a little of the Prejean-style notoriety.

But even Anita Bryant didn't suggest that gays should be killed. These are fighting words!

A few months ago, gay activists were horrified that US politicians and fundamentalists were influencing Ugandan politicians to adopt legislation that punished homosexuality with death. Now these fundamentalists are sufficiently emboldened to air their poisonous views in this country as well!

No longer content with preventing gays from getting married and enlisting in the military, they want us dead!

Gay people everywhere, know this: every time you watch Glee, American Idol or any other Fox program, you're putting money in the pockets of Fox, whose agenda apparently includes airing views about killing gays. This should deeply disturb all homosexuals and anyone else who values equal rights.

By tuning in to Fox you are emboldening the forces of hatred and toxic homophobia. And don't protest that you watch Glee online, because every click on their site translates into advertising dollars for people who broadcast segments about smiting you in the name of the Lord.

I call for a boycott of all things Fox. It worked on Florida orange juice.

Think I'm overreacting? Leave your gay-friendly, big city bubble for a minute. Imagine an undereducated straight male reeling from unemployment, dwindling savings, and a home in foreclosure. He already feels his world order's been turned upside down because someone named Barack Obama is president. He hears Glenn Beck on Fox calling Obama a racist and sees tea baggers rallying with signs calling the president a socialist, fascist, Marxist and communist. He's not sure what these words mean but he knows they sound un-American. He wants to lash out at someone, but the president's too difficult a target.

Then a semi-attractive girl like Lauren Ashley comes on TV and his eyes perk up. She's saying the Bible calls for gays to die for their sins. He doesn't recognize the passage from the Bible but he barely needs another reason to hate queers. So he sits and stews with hatred and fear until he blows a gasket. And before you know it, he's grabbing his gun and shooting up a local gay bar in the name of the Lord.

If you find this scenario far-fetched, remember that someone just committed suicide by flying a plane into an IRS building to avenge big government. And George Tiller, a doctor performing late-term abortions, was shot in his church just last year by a religious kook.

Please think about this before you turn on any Fox channel ever again. If you're too complacent to even recognize your enemies, how the hell are you going to fight them? And as Lauren Ashley proves, they're out for blood. Yours.

 
 
 
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11:18 AM on 03/04/2010
Well said!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Mother77
08:15 AM on 03/04/2010
I am already boycotting FOX.
01:57 PM on 03/04/2010
Who is Lady Bunny?
12:08 AM on 03/04/2010
Sanctimonious Bible thumpers are quick to point out the vileness of homosexuality. But it doesn't rise to the level of abhorrent behavior as does adultery. That’s right, is homosexuality mentioned in the 10 Commandments? No. Is adultery? Yes. It’s number seven; check it out.

Obviously God was more concerned about adultery than homosexuality, thus its inclusion on the “top 10 of what pisses me off the most” list. And what exactly is the definition of adultery? Well, according to none other than Jesus himself (if you believe he was real) in Luke 16:18, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” That’s pretty clear, wouldn’t you say.

I wonder if these holier than thou gay haters know of anyone who has been married more than once 'cause, according to the author of the book they so often quote they're even more objectionable to God than gay folk.
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SouthJerseySteve
Progressive isn't a dirty word.
07:01 PM on 03/03/2010
Thank you darling Lady Bunny for the story! I love how the haters quote Leviticus -- I am always reminded of Prop 8 - The Musical (bookmarked on my computer) and watch it from time to time to laugh and see Jack Black as Jesus with a shrimp cocktail is funny too.
05:58 PM on 03/03/2010
I LOVE YOU, BUNNY!! PROTEST FOX!!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
BonzaSheila
Having a good time with HOUSE MUSIC
04:38 PM on 03/03/2010
To HuffPo:

I keep trying to add Lady Bunny to the list of bloggers I am a fan of, but it's not happening. Is there a glitch somewhere? I have no problem adding other bloggers.
I am hoping the lady will blog more frequently, and hoping a fan base will help encourage her.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
learninglife
Be the change you want to see in the world
12:06 PM on 03/03/2010
Brava, Lady Bunny!

Gay people continue to be irresistible scapegoats, particularly for cowards, as they don't even have to take responsibility for their own hatred - they can still pretend they're being "moral" and are "following God"
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12:04 PM on 03/03/2010
Yes, I, too have avoided fox for years, but then came Glee. Silly as it sounds, this is a dilemma for me.
12:00 PM on 03/03/2010
I stopped watching all things FOX a long time ago. It had nothing to do with Gays one way or the other.
Simply by formulating my own opinions on what is "fair and balanced".

If Fox news is not the most biased "reporting" available, it has to be at least a strong contender for that title. Maybe there should be a formal competition.

We have beauty pageants to determine the most beautiful. Why not ugly contests to reveal the ugliest practices taking place daily under the name of "news".

Legitimate news is an endangered species. What passes as news apparently has to pass muster with the corporate sponsors before it can be presented to the public, that is the only rationale I can come up with for what passes as news reporting today.

We really do need a new reality TV game show that would cost nearly nothing to produce, and would in my opinion not only be a great hit, but a program worthy of being watched and actually useful in the grand scheme of things. Any producers read these posts? How about a weekly show for the most outrageous lies presented as truth in a news program. Would be a fascinating watch, and stiff competition every week. Think of the possibilities.
11:44 AM on 03/03/2010
Aren't Fox News and Fox Broadcasting separate entities?
bigdaveh
if you want rainbows, you have to put up with the
01:04 PM on 03/03/2010
Huh??/ What part of "Fox" threw you off? They are separate "broadcast" entities, but they money all goes to Murdoch and his cronies to continue their spewing hatred and lies.
01:49 PM on 03/03/2010
Oh! I was just always under the assumption that they were separate LOL So Murdoch gets the money from Glee? Cause I'm sorry kids, Fox has the best television shows on right now! And I'm not giving up my Glee!!!!!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
BonzaSheila
Having a good time with HOUSE MUSIC
11:22 AM on 03/03/2010
Hooray! Lady Bunny is blogging for HuffPo!

The world needs a bigger Lady Bunny presence.
I highly recommend The Lady's very entertaining blog: http://www.ladybunny.net/blog/ (the 1st post ATM is very NSFW)

Excellent post, and I am a long-time boy-cotter of Faux.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
gussiejives
Engineering Graduate, artist, web designer
09:58 AM on 03/03/2010
I was wondering where she came from. Leave it to Fox News to dig up the most obscure gay-bashers around.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ProfessorDuh
09:14 AM on 03/03/2010
What is it? Narcissists are not noted for their intelligence, their appreciation of civilized values OR their empathy. That's what it is.
08:53 AM on 03/03/2010
Boycott FOX and their advertisers.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
senchirai
08:13 AM on 03/03/2010
I don't even watch the Simpsons any more. You're preaching to the choir here.