You Go, Girl! Christian Beauty Queen Carrie Prejean Sues Miss California Pageant Officials for Unlawful Firing, Religious Discrimination
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on August 31, 2009
UPDATE, OCTOBER 19, 2009: Big Hollywood: EXCLUSIVE: Prejean Attorney — Pageant Countersuit Part of ‘Ongoing Smear Campaign’
Carrie Prejean was Miss California 2009 until the pageant officials fired her... she's taking legal action now
She’s the Christian California beauty pageant contestant who was catapulted to notoriety when the openly gay, sleaze-bag celebrity-bashing Perez Hilton asked her the controversial, too-hot-to-handle question that was heard around the blogosphere and around the world.
It made Prejean the new heroine of conservatives and the new scapegoat of the liberal left… it became a bloodfest, unfettered open season for Hollywood’s hypocritical statists and many gay activist groups to viciously attack Prejean.
For those who actually missed the original hullabaloo, here’s a quick recap of what happened at the Miss USA pageant back in April 2009:
A US beauty pageant hopeful was called “a dumb bitch” by a celebrity judge after candidly answering a question about same-sex marriage.
Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was asked by contest judge and celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton for her views on gay marriage during the Miss USA pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, samesame.com reports.
Hilton asked this question: “Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?”
“Well I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one way or the other,” 21-year-old Prejean said.
“We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage,” she continued. “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. Thank you.”
Hilton, the self proclaimed “Queen of all media” who has campaigned for gay equal rights, called the answer “the worst answer in pageant history”.
On a video blog on his website Hilton said, “She lost not because she doesn’t believe in gay marriage, she lost because she’s a dumb bitch!”
That was Round 1 from this deplorable scum bag. Prejean was honest and polite while expressing her opinion on this hot-potato issue in our country (or was it less “hot potato” and more a poorly disguised, deliberate “gotcha moment” question?). And Perez felt she was a bitch for being honest.
But wait, there was more. A vicious “Round 2″ came later that same day from Perez on his nasty celeb-bashing blog. Click link for Michelle Malkin’s take on it: Trash blogger retracts apology to Miss California USA; invokes the “c-word”. (If you’re unsure of what the “c-word” is that Hilton called her, it rhymes with “hunt”… liberals are in love with that disgusting word, as they use it against Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Condeleeza Rice, Michele Bachmann, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and other conservative women all the time.)
A lot of coverage on this developed for a number of weeks. Prejean became more famous, more of a household name in America as the runner-up to the Miss USA pageant than the actual Miss USA winner did (the winner was Kristen Dalton of North Carolina, by the way).
So, we now fast-forward to when the pageant officials suddenly fired Prejean in June. Remember, they never supported her gay marriage response, still think the foul-mouthed Hilton is a bag of chips and all that (because Christians upholding their religious beliefs without wavering or remorse is much more vile than misogynist, foul-mouthed diatribes from an angry gay man who smears conservative women on his hate-fest blog), and have pretty much wanted Prejean gone since the day of the pageant.
Never mind that a majority of Americans, and the president, have expressed the same opposing views on gay marriage. The majority feels while civil unions are OK, religious marriages are not OK.
Because Prejean, a Christian, stood by her religious beliefs on homosexuality, she has also been a target of left-wing extremist malignment and threats.
The specified reasons for Prejean’s firing have been fuzzy at best, something vague about Prejean not fulfilling her Miss California obligations. Her attorney says she did. I recall reading that she was being pressured to do a reality show or pose semi-nude in Playboy (which may or not be true), but if true, would have violated her Miss California contract (at least, that’s how I understand it). There also appears to be a personal vendetta against Prejean, possibly spearheaded by the former co-director of Miss California USA, Shanna Moakler, which may explain more about the firing. Shanna, are we getting a bit too leftist puritanical in our old age?
From a previous Frugal Café post:
Former Playboy model and the co-director of Miss California USA, Shanna Moakler, by the way, said a few weeks ago that she was so upset with Trump and his decision to uphold Prejean’s First Amendment rights and the controversial photos that someone posted on the Internet, that she resigned, saying she no longer believed in the integrity of the Miss USA organization. DLTDHYOTWO.
Shanna Moakler, co-director of the Miss California USA Organization, stepped down from her position today. The news come one day after Donald Trump and the Miss USA organization decided that Miss California, Carrie Prejean, could keep her crown and remain runner up for the Miss USA title after the release of scandalous pictures and other controversies.
And then, without warning a bit later, the Miss California lynch mob ripped away her title anyway, likely after nagging Trump to death.
Video Encore:
Carrie Prejean: Sean Hannity Show Exclusive Interview, Reactions to Being Fired | June 2009
The story hasn’t died and Carrie Prejean hasn’t crawled away in whimpering disgrace to become a lonely footnote in the jaded beauty queen archives.
No, legal action is now being taken for her firing, as revealed in a Big Hollywood exclusive below.
To which I say, “You go, girl!” I’ll bring the popcorn…
From Big Hollywood: EXCLUSIVE: Carrie Prejean Takes Legal Action Against Miss California USA Officials
RANCHO SANTA FE, CA – Carrie Prejean’s attorney, Charles S. LiMandri announced today that the former Miss California USA is filing a complaint in the Superior Court of California against Miss California USA officials Keith Lewis and Shanna Moakler, and publicist Roger Neal. The complaint cites damages to Miss Prejean including libel, public disclosure of private facts, religious discrimination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Miss Prejean was fired from her role as Miss California USA in June of this year, following several months of controversy over her answer at the Miss USA pageant regarding same-sex marriage. Lewis claimed Miss Prejean’s termination was due to a violation of contract. Miss Prejean’s complaint will refute that allegation, and demonstrate that both the chronology and factual evidence clearly show she lived up to all her contractual obligations, but was fired, harassed and publicly attacked solely due to her religious beliefs.
Charles S. LiMandri, attorney for Miss Prejean, released the following statement regarding the complaint:
“Over the past two months we have worked hard to provide overwhelming evidence that Carrie Prejean did not violate her contract with Miss California USA and did not deserve to have her title revoked by Keith Lewis. We will make the case that her title was taken from her solely because of her support of traditional marriage. Keith Lewis has refused to clear her good name or even to admit any wrongdoing. Therefore, Carrie Prejean is left with no alternative but to take her case to court where she expects to be fully vindicated.”
Related reading:
Right Minded Online: Hitting back
Gateway Pundit: Good. Carrie Prejean Sues Miss California For Religious Discrimination …Update: Perez Hilton’s Disgusting Response
TMZ: Carrie Prejean Sues for Religious Discrimination
FOX News: Carrie Prejean Files Discrimination Suit Against Miss California Organization
NBC San Diego: Ex-Miss California Carrie Prejean Sues
Popeater: Donald Trump Accused of Fixing Miss Universe Pageant
Stop the ACLU: Beauty queens must not voice conservative opinions
The Free Rider: Palin, Parker and Prejean — Again
Nice Deb: Carrie Prejean’s Critics
The American Spectator: A Tough Sell in the Big Enchilada
Frugal Café Blog Zone: Perez Hilton in Hot Water with GLAAD for Calling Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas That Vile Anti-Gay Slur Word That Begins with “F” and Bravo, Elisabeth… Elisabeth Hasselbeck Goes After Playboy for Disgusting ‘Hate-Rape of Top 10 Conservative Women’ Article (video) and Ann Coulter, in Defense of Christian Beauty Queen Carrie Prejean: ‘Liberals Are Ferocious Misogynists’
Big Hollywood: Pageant RELEASES Topless Miss Universe Photos and Prejean Attorney Strikes Back: Carrie Has Fulfilled her Pageant Obligations and Prejean Attorney to Miss California USA Pageant Directors: Last Chance to Retract Defamatory Statements
The Washington Post, The Fix: Palin On Prejean
Hot Air:It’s official: Playboy is a hate site; Update: Playboy pulled it and Bonnie Erbe: That Playboy “hate f***” piece was wrong but Malkin sort of deserved it and Video: Megyn Kelly unloads on Playboy
GayPatriot: Once again, the needed conversation on gay marriage and Name-calling: the supposedly smart set’s preferred means to respond to gay marriage opponents and others offering a politically incorrect point of view
Wolkings World: Finally: Dems defend Prejean
Michelle Malkin: Gossip blogger/pageant judge calls contestant “dumb b*tch” over gay marriage question
WorldNetDaily: Miss USA judge calls beauty queen ‘C-word’ – Openly homosexual blogger defaces contestant’s photos, gives her 0 score (offensive language and photos)
The New Agenda: Playboy: Now With More Misogyny!
Say Anything: Perez Hilton Gets Punched In The Face For Running His Mouth To The Wrong Person
Christian Toto, Big Hollywood: ‘Entertainment Weekly’ Hearts Perez Hilton
Andrew Breitbart, Big Hollywood: Fifteen
American Glob: The Queen Is Dead, Karma Catches Up With Perez Hilton
About the author
As both a fiscal and a social conservative, I must say that Prejean and Hannity are just as much hypocrites as the liberal left. Prejean, a lingerie model parading herself in revealing attire — you call that Christian? You call that \family values?\ I call that perversion. Christian women believe what the Bible says: \In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety\
(1 Timothy 2:9). Do you think Prejean’s apparel qualifies as \modest?\ Do you think Prejean’s come-hither poses qualify as \shamefacedness\? A \Christian\ beauty pageant is just as much an oxymoron as a \Christian\ stripper or a \Christian\ prostitute.
I, too, am a Christian, and sadly, you’re doing exactly what Jesus angrily decried those who wanted to stone Mary Magdelene. “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (John 8:7, King James Translation)
I’ve NEVER met a Christian who hasn’t made mistakes, never met one who is perfect, never known one without sin. Jesus accepts all people who ask him to be their Savior… not just those who, by your definition, are somehow “better”, by YOUR definition. I’ve known junkies, criminals, adulterers, liars, cheats, gossips, all who have turned to God, who have asked Jesus to enter their hearts and their lives… thankfully, God and Jesus forgave them for their sins, where you will not. How dare you judge Carrie Prejean, how un-Christian of you to call her a hypocrite. As a Christian, as you claim you are, you should know better that this is precisely what Jesus does NOT want us to do.
As Christians, we all strive to be without sin like Jesus Christ, and we ALL woefully fall short. But daily, we strive again. If I have not coveted or lied or done anything else that displeases God at the end of a day, I’m elated. But I know tomorrow will be different, I know that I will fall short. By your self-righteous definition, only those who have not erred or sinned can rightfully call themselves Christians, which is the antithesis of Jesus’ teachings.
I can excuse this, though, because I have many Christian friends who err all the time and judge others like you have. It is a human flaw, but one, with time, you should be able to rise above.
However, here is where I get really angry… the Bible quote. You are misusing it. I don’t know why you are misrepresenting it, and not including the lines that follow. It appears that you’re being disingenuous, however. The passage you’re quoting was written by Paul in a letter, whom I’ve always felt did not represent Jesus and His teachings correctly. He was a very troubled man. Biblical scholars have determined that he had personal dragons of his own, he had what appears to be many mental problems. Also, you’ve only taken one shortened line from the longer passage, which is preceded by how followers are suppose to dress and behave when they attend public prayer/worship events. PUBLIC PRAYER… not everyday life. And it was not ever uttered by Jesus.
The longer 1 Timothy 2:9-12 passage, from the New American Standard Bible and which differs from your version, reads:
“Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.”
Do I agree with or follow this passage? No, I do not. You are failing to acknowledge what were the cultural norms of 1 A.D. At the time, women were the property of men, they were treated about as well as dogs, and much of the writings of Paul reflect the misogynist culture of the time and locale. “Immodest dressing” for women in 1 A.D. included exposed arms and exposed legs. Women were not allowed to have jobs outside the home nor own property, either. They had no legal rights. They were not to ever disagree with men. Totally chauvinistic and abusive period toward women. Another mandate of Paul’s was that women were not to ever cut their hair. I would say 98 percent of Christian women today would not follow this passage you presented, either. Many women wear pearls to church. Many women wear wedding bands made of gold. Many women, through the centuries, have worn their hair in braids. This is not perversion.
Not agreeing with this Old World passage does not make us hypocritical Christians. You quoting it out of context, though, is deplorable.
I’ve been unable to locate or substantiate your exact quotation on BibleGateway, so I do not know which version of the Bible you used, but I did find the shortened passage through Google on various websites. Strange that BibleGateway.com doesn’t have it as you cited it, but a number of New Age-y blogs and websites do. You have truncated the passage, which reads fully on random websites thusly: “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing Godliness) with good works”. None of the websites that quoted this biblical passage clarified that it is in reference to women attending public prayer nor that it was written by Paul, nor that instructions for men preceded it.
Regardless, you are either accidentally or deliberately misrepresenting the passage, twisting it to malign Prejean, and you equating her as a stripper or prostitute is ridiculous and deceitful, based solely on this one line in 1 Timothy 2:9. And, even if she was the most promiscuous, slutty woman on the face of the earth, whoring around like so many of Hollywood’s pop tarts or the hookers in Nevada do, if she has accepted Christ as her Savior, He would accept her, sins and all. And yes, even then, she would be a Christian.
Calling Sean Hannity a hypocrite was not explained by you, but I don’t think he was ever an underwear model. Hannity IS a Christian, and again, you judging him, calling him a hypocrite or anyone else as such, goes against the foundation of teachings of Jesus.
I don’t doubt that you consider yourself a good Christian. I am not saying that you aren’t, or that at least you make efforts to be. What I will say though is that you need to read the teachings of Jesus more thoroughly, stop casting stones, and worry more about living your own life as sin-free as possible. Attacking Carrie Prejean like you did for modeling underwear is not an act of Christianity. We aren’t living in 1 A.D., nor are we of the Puritanical era or of the Amish persuasion. Times have changed, and the treatment of women and women’s equality in this world has greatly improved over what it was back when Paul walked the earth. The female body is beautiful and not something to be ashamed about.
I find it quite fascinating and curious that while homosexuality is considered a sin in so many religions, you did not attack gay celebrity basher Perez Hilton in any way. Perhaps it is easier to attack a Christian female for posing in an underwear ad by misusing a Bible passage than to comment on a vicious, spotlight-seeking, potty-mouthed, hate-mongering worm like Hilton who uses extremely foul language on his website to mock and attack Prejean and other Christians. Look in the mirror and see the true Christian hypocrite.