Miss USA runner-up sparks gay rights row

Reuters

OUTSPOKEN: Miss USA runner-up, Miss California Carrie Prejean, is embroiled in a gay rights row.

Related Links

Meet the new Miss USA winner

Relevant offers

Celebrities

Houston's drug records sought Robyn Malcolm lays it all bare Houston's room already re-occupied Can Paris Hilton save her image? Jamie Oliver uncovers treasure Rihanna urged to stay away from Brown Whitney death sparks rush for music Lopez forks out for beau's new look Whitney to have private memorial Lady Gaga confirms second show

The runner-up to Miss USA has stirred controversy at this year's beauty pageant by saying she did not believe in gay marriage.

Miss California’s comments at Sunday's pageant sparked outrage, with some audience members going head-to-head with supporters after the show.

The controvery erupted when Miss California Carrie Prejean responded to a question by gay pageant judge and celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton on whether she believed in gay marriage.

Prejean told the audience her family believed "marriage should be between a man and a woman".

"No offence to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."

Keith Lewis, who runs the Miss California competition, told FOXNews.com he was "saddened" and "hurt" by Prejean's statement.

"I believe all religions should be able to ordain what unions they see fit. I do not believe our government should be able to discriminate against anyone and religious beliefs have no politics in the Miss California family."

Co-director Shanna Moakler supported Mr Lewis' statement.

But Miss Prejean told Foxnews.com she had "no regrets" and was happy with the answer she gave.

Following the show a shouting match errupted.

"It's ugly," said Scott Ihrig, a gay man, who attended the pageant with his partner.

"I think it's ridiculous that she got first runner-up. That is not the value of 95 percent of the people in this audience. Look around this audience and tell me how many gay men there are."

But the mother of Miss New Mexico Charmaine Koonce supported the comments. "In the Bible it says marriage is between Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve," she said.

It follows controversy earlier this month when Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza posted a blog from a trip to Guantanamo Bay, saying she was having a great time at a base that houses the notorious military prison.

It was later deleted from the pageant's website.

Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton was crowned Miss USA on Sunday.

* Check out the video of the incident here.

- © Fairfax NZ News