Associated Press - April 23, 2009 1:24 PM ET

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama House has approved a resolution that praises Miss USA contestant Carrie Prejean for speaking out against gay marriage.

The House approved the resolution Thursday by Republican Rep. Jay Love of Montgomery on a voice vote.

Prejean was competing as Miss California and finished second after answering a question from judge Perez Hilton concerning gay marriage during Sunday night's televised pageant. She said she felt marriage should be between a man and a woman.

Love said Prejean stuck to her convictions even if it meant losing the pageant.

Love said he has received a number of e-mails and phone calls from across the country since introducing the resolution. He said more than half of those disagreed with the resolution.

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