Miss California's gay marriage answer sparks controversy

Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton won the Miss USA pageant held at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, April 19, 2009, while Prejean (Miss California) was voted first-runner up.

When asked about legalizing same-sex marriage from judge Hilton, Prejean acknowledged her opposition to same-sex marriages, predictably disappointing the celebrity blogger as well as some of those in the audience.

During Sunday night's live telecast, the Internet blogger behind perezhilton.com asked Miss California: "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit, why or why not?"

Prejan, the statuesque San Diego blond, answered: "I think its great Americans are able to choose one way or another."

She continued. "We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a 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."

Prejan's controversial remarks about gay marriages made Hilton visibly upset and earned a mixed reaction from the live audience. Prejean ultimately came up short, losing the Miss USA crown to Miss North Carolina, Kristen Dalton.

"It did cost me my crown," Prejean said of her response to pageant host Billy Bush on his Monday's "Billy Bush Show". She continued: "I wouldn't have had it any other way. I said what I feel. I stated an opinion that was true to myself and that's all I can do."

But, her response offended one more person: Keith Lewis, the executive director for Miss California USA/Teen USA competition, who said he was saddened by Prejean's response. "I am personally ... hurt that Miss California believes marriage rights belong only to a man and a woman," Lewis said.

Hilton, too, said in an appearance Monday on MSNBC that he was absolutely "shocked and incredibly frustrated and disappointed" with Prejean's remarks. "That's not the kind of woman I want to be Miss USA," he said. "Miss USA should represent all Americans and, with her answer, she instantly alienated millions of gays and lesbians and their friends."

But Prejan is not regretful about her gay marriage opinion, saying: "It is a very touchy subject and [Hilton] is a homosexual, and I see where he was coming from and I see the audience would've wanted me to be more politically correct. But I was raised in a way that you can never compromise your beliefs and your opinions for anything."

"I feel like I won," she continued. "I feel like I'm the winner. I really do."

The one person who loudly supported Prejan's remarks was Charmaine Koonce, the mother of third-place finisher Miss New Mexico, Bianca Matamoros-Koonce.

In a post-pageant argument in the hotel lobby, Koonce said: "In the Bible it says marriage is between Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve."