Miss USA... and Miss CA USA vs. Perez Hilton on the subject of gay marriage

So, last night was the 2009 Miss USA pageant, and for those of you who know my obsession with pageantry, you know it was one of my favorite TV nights of the year! I had my favorites... some of them made the top 15, some didn't (notably Florida, who is so gorgeous and smart and well-spoken... I just don't get it). Matt laughed and commented as I began to watch the pageant that I am the only girl he's ever dated that liked pageants, and not only do I like them, I love them. I reminded him that we are married. ;) I realize he's never been married before, so saying that I was the only girl he'd ever married would have been silly. Anyway, I digress.

So, it comes down to the top 5 questions. The contestants choose a judge from a bowl, and that judge poses the question to that contestant. All do a passable job of answering their questions, some better than others. However, California draws Perez Hilton and is asked, "Vermont just became the fourth state to legalize gay marriage. Do you think all states should follow suit?" She came back with something along the lines of, "I think it's great that we have the right to choose... blah blah blah... but in my country and in my family, I believe that marriage is between and man and a woman. No offense to anyone out there, but that's what I believe." This poor girl is being CRUCIFIED! She ended up finishing 1st RU. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and as Americans, we have the right to speak freely. Do I agree with her? No (well, not fully, but that's a topic previously addressed in a political post). Do I think she may have cost herself the title? Possibly (I think NC would have won anyway). But kudos to her for standing up on a pageant stage (with a lot of gay fans) and answering a question posed by a gay man honestly. I just can't believe the uproar this has caused, but I know Donald Trump is loving it.

Anyway, congratulations to Miss USA 2009, Kristen Dalton from North Carolina!