What % of single men involved with beauty pageants as fans or support staff are gay?

[astro]

The conflicting attitudes between the generally conservative parents of pageant contestants and the purportedly high proportion of gay men providing a variety of support functions for beauty pageants was source of some conflict re the recent news story about Miss California’s response to a question about gay marriage.

One gay man was incensed at the answer and pointed to the high percentage of gay men in the audience as evidence for what a hypocritical position this was to take for pageant contestant.

Is he right. Are the single men involved in beauty and talent pageants largely gay?

Not without some drama
If there is a YouTube moment from Sunday’s show, it may be Miss California’s answer to a question about legalizing same-sex marriage. The tall blonde stumbled some before giving an answer that appeared to please the pageant audience.

“We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage,” Prejean said. “And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised.”

Some in the audience cheered, others booed. The answer sparked a shouting match in the lobby after the show.

“It’s ugly,” said Scott Ihrig, a gay man, who attended the pageant with his partner. “I think it’s ridiculous that she got first runner-up. That is not the value of 95 percent of the people in this audience. Look around this audience and tell me how many gay men there are.”

Charmaine Koonce, the mother of Miss New Mexico USA Bianca Carla, argued back.

“In the Bible it says marriage is between Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!”

[Elendil_s_Heir]

From what I’ve seen and read, I’d guess it’s very high. Don’t know that anyone’s done any polling, though.

[Miller]

I’d say around 200-300%

[astro]

@Miller

I’d say around 200-300%

Well then! I can see why they’re so pissed.