Beverly Hills Doesn't Care for (Conservative) Free Speech

In what's starting to look like a case of history repeating itself, a contestant in the upcoming Miss California pageant has let it slip that she's opposed to gay marriage. And liberals are having fits.

In this case, the city council of Beverly Hills - the very city which Lauren Ashley will represent - has condemned her views and is demanding that the pageant not allow her to use the moniker "Miss Beverly Hills" in the competition.

Via Fox News [1]:

Former Miss California Carrie Prejean isn't the only beauty queen open to expressing her objection to same-sex marriage. Miss Beverly Hills 2010 Lauren Ashley is also speaking out in support of traditional nuptials.

Miss Beverly Hills and upcoming Miss California contender Lauren Ashley spoke out to Pop Tarts earlier this week against gay marriage -- and as a result she has been publicly condemned by the City of Beverly Hills.

"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." ...

In other words, Beverly Hills doesn't care much for the right to express one's own religious convictions, unless of course her convictions would have been in support of gay marriage.  And have you ever noticed how it's the liberals that are usually the most intolerant of opposing viewpoints?

The National Organization for Marriage is speaking out in support of Miss Ashley.

"I'm not surprised that Miss Beverly Hills, Lauren Ashley, opposes
gay marriage -- after all 45 percent of young Californians voted for
Prop 8, as did 7 million Californians generally," the organization's
president, Maggie Gallagher, told us. "But I have to say, I am
impressed with her courage in coming forward and for speaking up for
Carrie. ..."

So are we.