Decision Made After “Prejean Day” Divides Hometown
By TONY SHIN, MICHELLE WAYLAND and ERIC S. PAGE
Updated 10:37 AM PST, Fri, May 15, 2009
A proposal to make June 1st “Carrie Prejean Day” in her hometown has failed.
On Thursday, hundred of locals descended upon a Vista elementary school to debate whether the local school board should publicly honor Prejean, the Miss USA runner-up who grabbed national attention for her comments opposing same-sex marriage.
Late Thursday night, the school board discussed the proposal, which was initiated by trustee Jim Gibson -- but it needed a second motion before the entire board could vote on it. No other member would second it.
On Tuesday, Trustee Elizabeth Jaka remarked, "I'm not sure I'm ready to recognize somebody for expressing an opinion."
Gibson was reportedly a local backer of Proposition 8, which rolled back gay marriage in California. "As far as I'm concerned, she's a great role model, and she's a person who needs to be emulated," Gibson told the North County Times.
The school board received dozens of negative emails in response to the proposal, which was featured on the gossip web site TMZ.
"It is wrong to teach bigotry and discrimination," Evelyn Thomas, a director for a local LGBT coalition, told the board. "The reality is, students -- your students -- are part of nontraditional families."
The proclamation would have commended Prejean for showing "integrity, leadership, dedication and high moral standards to compete and win in the title of Miss California."
Prejean could not be reached for comment but said in an earlier phone interview that she was thrilled by the recognition and is proud of her North County ties.
First Published: May 14, 2009 11:40 AM PST
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