Say it ain't so, Donald! Why is Donald Trump, one of the biggest mouths on the planet, trying to make Miss California USA, the runner-up Miss USA, shut up?

That's what went through my mind as I looked at the cease-and-desist order from the Trump-owned Miss Universe pageant directed at me and the National Organization for Marriage. Last week, NOM launched an ad, "No Offense," which features a seven-second clip of Carrie Prejean answering the question posed to her by pageant judge Perez Hilton. "I believe marriage should be between a man and woman, no offense to anybody," she said.

The Miss Universe cease-and-desist order trying to prevent the ad from airing that clip follows on the heels of Perez Hilton's vain legal efforts to block the use of the video he made cursing out Carrie Prejean. What are these people so afraid of?

Now let me be absolutely clear about something, because it has been widely misreported in the press: Carrie doesn't work for my organization or any organization. She's a spokeswoman for herself, as anyone watching her can tell. She didn't "ink a deal" with NOM to do an ad, she volunteered her time.

I know it's hard in this cynical age for anyone to believe this, but Carrie is the real deal. She turned down all the glitter Hollywood has to offer rather than become the kind of person afraid to speak her mind. Americans, whatever their views on marriage, are proud of Carrie.

So what is it with the Miss Universe pagent, Perez Hilton and the whole Hollywood mafia? Don't they know what a treasure -- a real diamond tiara -- they have in this girl?

Of course she's not perfect. She's a young California beauty pageant contestant. As a former unwed mother, I certainly want to say that you don't have to be a perfect person to have the right to stand up for marriage.

What you do have to be prepared for, sadly, is a tidal wave of hatred directed your way by a vocal and well-connected minority who seem to believe tolerance is a one-way street.

I don't mean gay people, most of whom -- like other Americans -- know the difference between disagreement and hate. I am talking about an organized political movement with a political goal: to change the law so that same-sex unions must be considered marriages.

In the green room on Saturday, waiting to do my second MSNBC appearance, a fellow guest quickly directed anger at Carrie:

"Everyone is laughing at her. She's a dumb blonde. She's going to die broke and alone like Anita Bryant."

Now, I'm not worried about Carrie. Hollywood doesn't get people like her. But destroy Carrie? What kind of person would want to do that?

On "The O'Reilly Factor" last night, Carrie's pastor, Miles McPherson, was asked if he was surprised by the fury unleashed toward Carrie. No, he said, not after the Proposition 8 experience. That is when I too first felt a wall of licensed hatred unleashed at anyone who stands up to support marriage: property attacked, livelihoods threatened, religious minorities singled out for retribution, and gay marriage advocates boasting proudly about how they can hurt (financially) anyone who disagrees with them.

If this is how the gay marriage movement treats people who disagree when the law is yet on the side of people like Carrie, what do they plan to do with their newfound legal power if they succeed? That's a real question on the minds of millions of Americans. I can't answer it. Only gay marriage advocates can.

I have a suggestion for them: Take control of your movement. Lay off Carrie Prejean. Apologize to her for the bad apples in your midst. Then let's get back to civil and decent debate on the future of marriage.