Because What We Really Need is Another Beauty Queen Bigot....

Well, yet another beauty pageant contestant is under fire after speaking out against gay marriage... and let me tell you, the self-titled "Miss Beverly Hills" AKA Lauren Ashley, makes Carrie Prejean look...oh, I don't know...like LESS of a bigot...

Anyway, if you've not heard- the Miss California contender blasted equal rights marriage stating:

"In Leviticus it says 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. The Bible is pretty black and white."

Suffice it to say, people are outraged... particularly the very tolerant people of Beverly Hills! The city released this statement yesterday in response to the beauty queen's slam:

"The City of Beverly Hills today denounced statements made by Miss California USA contestant Lauren Ashley, the self-described Miss Beverly Hills. Ms. Ashley resides in Pasadena and is currently a contestant for the Miss California USA title. She does not represent Beverly Hills in any capacity," the city said in a news release issued Wednesday. "The City of Beverly Hills strongly condemns Ms. Ashley's recent statements and has contacted pageant officials to determine ways to formally prevent any beauty contestants claiming the title of Miss Beverly Hills in the future."

Let me just say as someone who spent a good portion of my childhood in the city of Beverly Hills and as a Los Angeles native, this is the LAST person on Earth I want representing the state of California. And I am not at all surprised that a city which houses the Museum of Tolerance is deeply upset by Ashley's horrific insinuation that gay people should be killed. I'd like to remind Miss Ashley that during WWII homosexuals were in fact put to death alongside 5 million Jews and whoever else Hitler thought was an "abomination".

Ashley went on to tell her friends at Fox News "If he (God) says that having sex with someone of your same gender is going to bring death upon you, that's a pretty stern warning, and he knows more than we do about life." I pose this question to the beauty queen, "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT LIFE?" More to the point- what do YOU know about living as a gay man or woman? What do YOU know about being subjected to hate crimes and verbal abuse? What do YOU know about feeling so isolated that you cannot even continue attending your church because you know you'll never be accepted?

Another question Ashley's disgusting comments brings to light is this: Is the Bible as "black and white" as she seems to think it is? Well, Dan Savage took to his blog to tackle this one!

Here is an excerpt :

The same God that allegedly scribbled out that stern warning for the gays—a God who wishes us only the best!—also condemned to death all young women who aren't virgins on their wedding nights. So a follow-up question for Miss Beverly Hills: Are you a virgin? If not, should you be put to death? And a former Miss California—Carrie Prejean—isn't a virgin. Should she be put to death? Would you like to cast the first stone?

Well done, Dan! Couldn't have said it better myself! Although I would like to know if Miss Ashley ever eats shrimp, minds polygamy, shakes a man's hand when on her period or is planning on stoning Tiger Woods anytime soon. (Look it up, Miss Ashley)

In closing this blog today, I'd like to make it perfectly plain that while I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, I also believe that opinions which ostracize a single group of people living within a community can make freedom of speech a dangerous right. Hate is a powerful thing and it should be censored before it spreads. I don't think I have to remind those of you reading this blog of the consequences when it does.

I'd also like to say that the only Miss Beverly Hills I will support is this one : http://www.freewebs.com/missbeverleyhills/



-Vignette-Noelle Lammott, Fish out of Water Blog Commentator -

"To find out more information about LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, religion and homosexuality, The Bible's stance on gay relationships or the politics around gay mariage please feel free to contact us or book a screening of FISH OUT OF WATER. Please note that a study guide can be downloaded from the "Book A Screening" page at www.fishoutofwaterfilm.com"