Lawmaker supports beauty queen who opposes gay marriage

State Rep. Jay Love has drafted a resolution supporting Miss California USA after she was criticized for her comments during the Miss USA 2009 Pageant saying she believed marriage was between a man and a woman.

Miss California Carrie Prejean was asked during the pageant on Sunday if she supported legalizing gay marriage. Celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton, who is gay and was a judge at the competition, asked the question.

"I think it's great Americans are able to choose one or the other," Prejean said. "We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what 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 there, but that's how I was raised and that's how I think it should be, between a man and a woman."

Some people have criticized her for the comments.

Love, R-Montgomery, said there are those "telling people what they can believe and what they can say," which he said is wrong. He said she is being punished for saying marriage is between a man and a woman.

"I don’t believe that’s right," Love said.

The former Republican nominee for the 2nd Congressional District said he supports Prejean for standing by her beliefs and not giving the politically correct answer.

Hilton originally made derogatory comments about Prejean, according to several news reports, but later apologized and said he applauded her for her honesty. He said her answer alienated millions of gays and lesbians and their friends and family.

Prejean was first runner-up. Prejean and Hilton have both told news outlets they thought the comments cost her the crown.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen