Miss New York First Contestant to Compete with Gay Rights Platform

by Roxann MtJoy · 2010-08-02 12:18:00 UTC
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I have a confession to make: This feminist writer loved pageants as a child. The annual Miss America was like my Super Bowl. I'll even admit to actually competing in Miss Pre-Teen Pennsylvania when I was 12. Hey, we all have secrets. But, the older I grew and the more I learned, the more impossible it became for me to enjoy the annual glam-fest. I began to see the sexism, objectification, and shallowness of the event. So it was with a measure of excitement that I found out that the woman just crowned Miss New York competed with gay rights as her chosen platform, the first such contestant in the pageant's history.

For those of you not well-versed in pageant-speak, each Miss America contestant must select a platform. Should she win at the state or national, that platform sets the tone for her reign. According to the official Miss America website, "titleholders use their stature to address community service organizations, business and civic leaders, the media and others about their platform issues." Popular past platforms include breast cancer awareness, homelessness, literacy, and domestic violence. While certainly worthy causes, none of these issues exactly spark controversy.

Miss New York, Claire Buffie, is now bravely going where no Miss America contestant has gone before in the ninety-year history of the pageant. To be more specific, the official name of her platform is "Straight for Equality: Let’s Talk." In an interview with The Advocate, Buffie says, "My platform is politically driven in that I think we need political reform for gay rights, but I’ve really taken it down to organizations like PFLAG where I have the opportunity for personal mentorship." In fact, last year alone she spoke to over 1,600 New York City school kids about equality issues and ending stereotypes and discrimination.

Buffie's passion is inspired by her sister Sarah, who happens to be a lesbian. Buffie realized that not every family is as accepting as hers and decided to become an gay rights advocate. She believes that the Miss America pageant system is ready for such a groundbreaking platform. Call me skeptical, but I am not quite as sure. What I am sure about is that I will be rooting for Buffie this January when she competes for the crown in the national Miss America competition.

Photo credit: bobster855

Roxann MtJoy is a freelance writer who previously worked as a case manager at a domestic violence shelter. She is currently attending graduate school for theater in Mount Vernon, N.Y.
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