Barstow's Former Miss California joins gay marriage debate

A familiar face — known locally as a former Miss Barstow and to a wider audience as Miss California 2008 — is taking a stand supporting same-sex marriage in a photography-based advocacy campaign.

Raquel Beezley, who was crowned Miss California USA in 2008 and Miss Barstow in 2004, is featured in a photo campaign that features hundreds of portraits of people with their mouths duct-taped in an expression of protest against Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California in Nov. 2008.

The 22-year-old Barstow native appears in the photograph alongside former Miss USA beauty queens, all in tiaras, in an effort to send a message supporting gay marriage in light of the recent controversy surrounding this year’s Miss California, Carrie Prejean, and her on-stage response opposing gay marriage.

“I absolutely respect her for her opinion and for standing up for herself,” said Beezley — who crowned Prejean as the new state winner this year — but if given the same question, she would have answered much differently.

“I have many friends and supporters in the gay community who were hurt by the comments,” she said.

“I would have said I believe in equal rights,” Beezley said, but added that Prejean’s response was under on-stage scrutiny and time pressure.

“It’s so scary in that moment when you get asked that question,” she added.

Although she doesn’t consider herself an activist, Beezley, who now lives in Hermosa Beach and is pursuing modeling and a a career in entertainment broadcasting, said she decided to step out publicly with the photo campaign, dubbed “NOH8” (pronounced “no hate”), as a result of her experiences as Miss California.

She originally began championing global warming awareness but became more interested in equal rights through meeting pageant people who supported gay rights.

Beezley’s mother, Christine Parrish, said that while she doesn’t agree with her daughter’s stance, she respects Beezley’s decision to be in the photo.

“I don’t care if we bump heads. I still support her,” said Parrish.

The photo campaign, which includes actors, musicians and other public figures, is on display at the Hamilton-Selway Fine Art gallery in West Hollywood.

K2 Productions, an independent group that produces the Miss California USA pageant, did not return phone calls or an e-mail message seeking comment from Prejean on Friday.

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(760) 256-4122 or elee@desertdispatch.com