God Warrior Carrie Prejean reflects on controversy

Carrie Prejean, the former Miss California who became an overnight celebrity whe she spoke out against gay marriage at the Miss USA contest last April 19, appeared Friday morning at the "Values Voters Summit 2009" to reflect on her controversy and not taking the crown.

She blamed her loss on her stance on gay marriage tearfully saying "even though I didn't win the crown that night, I know that the Lord has so much of a bigger crown in heaven for me."

According to a blog posted by Brian Montopoli on the CBS News website Prejan "said Friday morning that "God had a plan for me that day" that she lost the beauty contest because "he knew I was strong enough to get through all the junk that I've been through." Added Prejean, who is releasing a book in November: "I was a woman who stood up for the truth and people don't want to admit that. I had the courage and the bravery that a lot of people don't have."

The weekend conference, co-sponsored by a number of heavy-hitters in the social conservative movement, including the Family Research Council, Focus on the Family Action, the American Family Association and the Heritage Foundation. also had appearances by such conservatives as Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Perry, Michelle Bachmann, Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Mike Huckabee and Bill O'Reilly.

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"Our Miss America"

Prejean, who was introduced by the leader of a group that opposes same-sex marriage (Maggie Gallagher) as "our Miss America," criticized those who spoke out her against her as being intolerant. "I have never seen anything like this before... I am disgusted at the way some people can be so intolerant. It disgust me.

"I am proud of the stance that I took and I know that God called me for such a time as this."

Prejean's appearance was part of the weekend event that featured such sessions as "Speechless - Silencing The Christians, "Thugocracy - Fighting The Vast Left Wing Conspiracy," "The Threat Of Illegal Immigration," "Global Warming Hysteria" and "Obamacare: Rationing Your Life Away."

Prejean sparked controversy in April when she said: "Well I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one way or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. You know what, in my country, in my family, I think I 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."

Prejean placed second, losing to Kristen Dalton, Miss North Carolina.

In the days that followed pageant judge Perez Hilton lashed out at her on his website calling her a "dumb bitch."

Later Hilton said ""She gave an awful, awful answer that alienated so many people." He also told ABC News that she lost the crown because of how she answered the question. adding that "There are various other ways she could have answered that question and still stayed true to herself without alienating millions of people."

Donald Trump, who owns most of the Miss Universe Organization, defended Prejean's answer, saying that "Miss California has done a wonderful job" and that "It wasn't a bad answer, that was simply her belief."

Trump defended her again when suggestive photos of Prejean were released on the Internet. "We are in the 21st century. We have determined the pictures taken are fine" and that "in some cases the pictures were lovely."

Prejean said of the photos, "I am a Christian, and I am a model. Models pose for pictures, including lingerie and swimwear photos. Recently, photos taken of me as a teenager have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid Web site that openly mocks me for my Christian faith. I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be.

Prejean, though, was trumped by Trump when on June 19 the Miss California crown was taken away from her by pageant officials, a move approved by Trump. The reason was "continued breach of contract issues."

Since the Miss USA Pageant Prejean has appeared in television ads opposing same-sex marriage for the National Organization for Marriage.

Maggie Gallagher from National Organization for Marriage introduces Carrie Prejean.