"Hi, I am Gari McDonald, the reigning Miss Teen Bahamas and yes, I am a lesbian."
Not the normal statement that you would exect to hear from a teen beauty queen, and the 19 year old student says her candor has not been welcomed by the pageant committee. Bahamas News reports she was given the option of "gracefully stepping down as the reigning queen or deal with the embarrassment of being stripped of her crown because of her alternative life style." McDonald says the pageant has not awarded her any of the prizes that were due, and threatens a sexual discrimination lawsuit.
In the Bahamas, right-wing fundamentalists are vocal opponents of gays and lesbians, but, recent role models such as McDonald—who also lectures on HIV prevention—and novelist Shawn Forbes are trying to raise awareness.
aren't these young women to refrain from sex during their "reign"? seems like she should have just left these folks to their own worldview from the beginning.
Posted by: joe | 06 September 2005 at 00:39
THERE IS NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN HONESTY.
YOU GO GIRL.
THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH DIAMONDS IN THE WORLD FOR THE CROWN YOU ARE WORTHY OF!!!!!!!
Posted by: telly tubby | 06 September 2005 at 19:37
No one deserves it more than u gari. You'r going to be ok sweety. Keep your head held high and be proud of who you are.
Posted by: sweetlululove | 15 April 2006 at 13:42
Thanks for the support of those who are understanding. For those who do not support me thats your choice and your freewill. Just let me say this just because I choose to love differently does not have to mean i am acting on it. How does any heterosexual know that they are do they have to first sleep with the opposite sex. Not at all!!!
Posted by: Gari | 02 July 2006 at 20:58