Subscribe to Breaking News
Loading ...Corvino: A tempest in a tiara
So a contestant for what is in large measure a popularity contest says something unpopular and doesn’t win. Why am I having a hard time getting worked up over this?
I’m talking about Carrie Prejean, Miss California USA, who when asked by Miss USA judge and gay celebrity blogger Perez Hilton whether she supports same-sex marriage, cheerfully and politely said no (or something like it—her answer wasn’t terribly clear). Specifically, she said,“Well I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where 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 out there, but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be between a man and a woman. Thank you very much.”
Not the most articulate answer (what’s “opposite marriage”?), nor the most original (“that’s how I was raised”). But I give her credit for grace under pressure, and for owning up to her convictions knowing that they might cost her the crown.
That doesn’t mean that her answer was “perfectly fine,” as Rich Tafel (founder of the Log Cabin Republicans) described it in the New York Times. Her answer was wrong—badly, painfully wrong.
But disagreeing with her answer doesn’t prevent me from acknowledging and admiring her integrity. Generally speaking, I prefer people saying what they believe—even if I disagree sharply—rather than merely what they think others want to hear. It’s a trait desirable in both friends and foes.
No one knows for sure whether she would have won with a different answer. But her 15 minutes of fame are stretching into 45 (at least) thanks to the predictable backlash.
Perez Hilton, demonstrating the gravitas, nobility, and calm judicial temperament that doubtless explains his selection as a pageant judge, promptly thereafter called her a “dumb bitch.”
This in turn prompted right-wing cries of victimhood. Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage (which released the laughable “Gathering Storm” ad) described Hilton as “the new face for gay marriage in this country.”
Gary Schneeberger, vice president of Focus on the Family, wrote in the New York Times,
“What has happened to Miss Prejean over the past few days is nothing short of religious persecution. No, it is not violent persecution — but that does not minimize its existence or its danger.”
Religious persecution? Because Perez Hilton is calling her nasty names? Oh, gag me with a tiara.
Perez Hilton is a gossip blogger known mainly for posting celebrity pictures and then adding juvenile scribbles to them. (His favorite embellishment seems to be ejaculate dripping from people’s mouths.) It’s not for nothing that his nom de plume resembles that of someone else who is famous just for being famous. Being obnoxious is what he does for a living.
So it’s no surprise that the religious right latched on to him. They’ve got nothing plausible to say in response to the serious marriage-equality advocates, so they make Hilton the face for the movement and then complain about what a nasty movement it is. Their intellectual dishonesty in doing so eclipses whatever integrity I admired in Miss Prejean.
Why, for example, didn’t they cite the letter to Prejean from Geoff Kors at Equality California, a letter which seeks “open, honest dialogue”? Let me guess: it’s because gracious letters from true movement leaders don’t support their victim narrative.
Even Gallagher concedes, “I don’t believe the response—hatred, ridicule, name-calling—by Perez Hilton is supported by most gay people or by most gay marriage supporters.”
But then she backtracks by adding, “But, sadly, it is increasingly the visceral and public response of the gay marriage movement to anyone who disagrees with its views.”
Sorry, but Perez Hilton’s blog is not the gay marriage movement. By Gallagher’s own admission, it is not even representative of the gay marriage movement. It’s a straw man, which is about the best that they can hope to knock down anymore.
*************************************
John Corvino, Ph.D. is an author, speaker, and philosophy professor at Wayne State University in Detroit. His column “The Gay Moralist” appears Fridays on 365gay.com.
For more about John Corvino, or to see clips from his “What’s Morally Wrong with Homosexuality?” DVD, visit www.johncorvino.com.
Excellent point Michelle. It’s like if people decided to hate all black Christians after hearing a sermon from Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Folks know that Wright does not represent all black people, let alone all Christians.
Though, to continue that analogy, when Wright’s name was in the news, nobody would’ve openly stated – even likely thought – that blacks and/or Christians should have been disallowed their civil rights.
@ Stephen and others that think Perez hurt our cause.
If somebody changes their opinion about our rights because of one person, isn’t that a fairly good example of being a bigot?
All he has done is upset those that already believe we aren’t worthy of equal rights.
While Perez Hilton may have some valid points about the role of Miss USA as a unifier rather than a divider, his message gets lost in his shrill delivery, namecalling, etc.
His mishandling of the issue will do more to hurt than help the gay etc. population.
These people have to understand that we are dealing with politics. When one person who is in the public eye looks bad, the other side will then use them to their advantage. Sadly in a world that values freedom of speech (well only the speech we like), people will use what you say and scew it to their purpose.
Personally i am not a huge fan of Perez Hilton, but he does have the right to speak his mind. But he has to know that what he says will be used. And the same goes for Miss California. You are on a stage, millions of people are looking at you. What you say will again be used either to your advantage or against you. If she really wanted to win, hands down, then she should have been more tactile about what she said. If she wanted to stand up for her beliefs, then good for her. But welcome to reality.
For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect, and anticipate their great shame, and the shame in theirgrandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way of support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone. Sean Penn
Our views on morality have evolved and in many cases religion has fought our evolution every step of the way. Such as slavery, equal rights for blacks, women’s suffrage, and currently gays are fighting for their equal rights.
@Mark
Exactly. If she had said anything against ethnic minorities, the sky could have fallen and nobody could be patting her on the back for “speaking her mind”. Seems like Racism or sexism is uncool/unacceptable/frowned upon but homophobia is condoned. I think miss CA and miss PEREZ both suck! Miss CA is homophobic and miss PEREZ is sexist.
John, admiring someone for their beliefs, is something you should consider very carefully before making such a misguided statment.
Our brothers and sisters are being murdered in Iraq for the beliefs of a religion.
Someones beliefs, should not be the criteria for being a role model and inspiration for teaching others, that the inequality of a certain group of people is acceptable because it’s their belief. She stated she was being true to scripture. Then let her run for miss christian America.
People believed putting butter on a burn, helped to heal it. What your saying amounts to pretty much the same thing.
Beliefs are something that must be seen for what they are, non factual. How many women were murdered and burned as witches because of fear from superstitious Christian beliefs.
I don’t believe in freedom and equality, I in fact know, that all people, not only deserve freedom and equality, they are entitled to it!
Doc is right. And Perez gave the other side something to hold onto. He made a decision based upon her opinion to an opinion question. And then gets mad at her opinion.
Give me a break. Perez has made an embarrassment of the issue. SHe is on every channel. The new Miss USA has backed her up and said that she holds the same opinion. Perez looks like the bitchy queen stereotype that the straight community sees in us.
And who loses. We do. We get labelled as imposing, and unfair as we unscrupulously influence a competition because somebody didn’t agree with us.
And the pretty blonde girl becomes the symbolic victim. A new Anita Bryant. And we may pay for what Perez has done.
Way to go Hilton. You are living up to your name.
“But disagreeing with her answer doesn’t prevent me from acknowledging and admiring her integrity. Generally speaking, I prefer people saying what they believe—even if I disagree sharply—rather than merely what they think others want to hear.”
Please explain to me what her comments have to do with “integrity.” I think that you need to look up the definition.
As for Mr. Hilton. I’m not certain who he is. If he’s related to Paris Hilton, I’m certain he has every bit of talent that she does.
I usually agree with you John, but would your statement regarding admiring her for her integrity translate to someone who made the same comment(s) about inter racial marriage? I ask only because it seems that many times, we in the GLBT community mirror society’s opinion that GLBT rights are second to others and not that big a deal. I know you don’t feel that way, but her comments were offensive and I think it should have cost her the crown. I also cringed at the amount of applause she got for saying it.
MISS PEREZ HILTON IS THE DUMB [FEMALE DOG]. TOO BAD MISS CA IS WAY PRETTIER. PEREZ DOES NOT REPRESENT ME. HE IS JUST TOO ANNOYING. HE HAS MANAGED TO UPGRADE MISS CA WITH HIS LITTLE RANT AFTER THE FACT. HE NEEDS TO SHUT UP NOW IMO.
I am certainly no fan of Mr. Hilton, but you know what—I think his reaction to her answer demonstrates the anger that many GLBT people feel when we constantly hear the crap coming from the mouths of the religious right!! And to me, this contestant represents the “religious right”.
“Religious persecution? Because Perez Hilton is calling her nasty names? Oh, gag me with a tiara.”
I mean, Perez Hilton is pretty scary.
http://stuffqueerpeopleneedtoknow.wordpress.com/
Perez Hilton is full of vile. He does more damage to the cause. Mr. Lavandeira, you do not represent us!
Go Perez! Thanks for asking Miss Prop h8 supporting California a real issue question. That makes you a true representative of the gay movement! If we rely upon the self-ordained gay leaders, maybe we wouldn’t have Prop h8!