Beverly Hills Disavows Beauty Queen

The city of Beverly Hills says an antigay Miss California USA contestant who claims to represent the city is a fraud, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Miss Beverly Hills Lauren Ashley has cited the Bible in declaring that same-sex marriage goes against God. "In Leviticus it says, 'If man lies with mankind as he would lie with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death and their blood shall be upon them.' The Bible is pretty black and white."

On Wednesday, Beverly Hills officials released a statement saying the city was shocked by Ashley's position and by her supposed title as Miss Beverly Hills. The city "does not sponsor a beauty pageant and has no association with Miss California USA," the statement said. "As such, there should be no individual claiming the title of Miss Beverly Hills." In fact, according to Beverly Hills officials, Ashley lives in Pasadena, Calif., and, therefore "does not represent Beverly Hills in any capacity."

"We are dismayed by any potential association with the city of Beverly Hills, which has a long history of tolerance and respect," Mayor Nancy Krasne said.

Read the full story here.

Watch Keith Olbermann and Dan Savage discuss Miss Beverly Hills below.