Miss Beverly Hills Defends Antigay Statements

Self-appointed Miss Beverly Hills, Lauren Ashley, spoke Thursday about the antigay comments she made to Fox News based on a passage from Leviticus that urges death for gays. The beauty queen, who has been disowned by her namesake city, said people should not take the Bible literally, but she still opposes marriage equality.

"Within our religion, Christianity, it says for the wages of sin is death," Ashley told NBC 4 in Los Angeles. "But also there is definitely forgiveness and mercy from Jesus himself."

Asked by reporter Gordon Tokumatsu whether Christians can remain gay, Ashley flicked her hair and said, "Um, well ... "

Watch the interview below.