Carrie Prejean's lawsuit against Miss California USA

Why the former beauty queen is suing pagaent officials over allegations of "religious discrimination"

"Carrie Prejean is finally firing back at the people behind Miss California USA," said TMZ.com. The former Miss California USA crown bearer—who clashed with pageant judge/blogger Perez Hilton over same-sex marriage—just filed a lawsuit "claiming Shanna Moakler and other pageant officials forced her out because of her religious beliefs." Included in the suit are allegations of "religious discrimination, defamation, public disclosure of private facts, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress."

"Is it any surprise," said Jack Ryan in The Post Chronicle, "after all the pushing, shoving, and protesting" over Carrie Prejean's public statement against gay marriage that "she would strike back"? Prejean "was terminated from her position" as Miss California USA in June because pageant head Keith Lewis “claimed that she violated her contract," but "apparently" it was "simply for her religious beliefs on the issue." This "fight isn't over yet."

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