The Oscar-winning screenwriter of Milk is grateful that Miss California Carrie Prejean was not stripped of her crown.

While Dustin Lance Black doesn’t think the beauty-pageant controversy should be “leading the conversation” about gay issues in America, he believes Prejean could be helping the fight for equal rights.

How so? Read on…

“What I think she does is help identify a population that we need to reach out to,” Black told me last night at an L.A. fundraiser for the Hetrick-Martin Institute, a New York City-based gay youth support services organization.

Princess Diaries actress Heather Matarazzo, who cohosted last night’s benefit at Regent Media honcho Paul Colichman’s Bel Air home, fought back tears as she recalled coming out as a lesbian five years ago. “You know, I wanted to kill myself,” she said.

“[A] famous actress working with Garry Marshall and Taylor Hackford and Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino—and I want to kill myself,” she said. “Because I can’t say who I am, because I am terrified.”

But just yesterday, Black’s own personal story helped a bill declaring a Harvey Milk Day in California pass the state Senate. “The only way we could get through to some of these groups that vote against us on election day is by telling our stories,” says Black.

“That process of education breaks down the stereotypes, the lies and the myths,” he adds. “I’m actually glad [Carrie] didn’t lose her job.”

Why dont U people get over Urselves. Ur so critical of who ever undresses in front of a camara. While statistically the USA is the #1 producer and viewers of porn. Give the girl a break!!! So U cant have an opinion because U chose to pose for some showy pix ??? com on GROW UP people! Bill Clinton was one of Ur best presidents but had a cigar hobby SO WHAT he did a great job didnt he??? Ur stupidity and double standards Insults us open minded people of the world.

hey - Don the commentor, YOU MUST BE A GAY MAN, GAY MEN HATE WOMEN PERIOD. THAT SONG FITS YOU TO A TEE, ‘YOU’RE SO GAY”.

SHUT THE F*CK UP AND TURN FROM YOUR EVIL GAY WAYS AND YOU WILL BE A HAPPIER MAN INSTEAD OF A MISERBLE WRETCH THAT YOU ARE.

SO WHAT IF SHE POSED FOR THOSE PHOTOS, I AGREE WITH CARRIE PREJEAN 100% ON HER VIEWS. I DON’T LIKE PEREZ THAT CONNIVING LITTLE B*TCH AND HIS FOLLOWERS, ALL THOSE GAYS ARE FREAKS AS WELL. CAN’T STAND THEM, I AM RIGHT IN BELIEVING THAT MARRIAGE IS BETWEEN A WOMAN AND A MAN, NOT SICKOS OR WEIRDOS LIKE GAYS.

Whatever, she lied about herself and the title of Miss California should be stripped away.

I totally support Ms. california,an her answer 100/ per cent

This woman is a pandora box: A liar, fake boops & I guess too much bleach in her hair has been contributing to be where she is now!

Why don’t they leave the girl alone?You can see that much everyday most any where,she is a very beautiful young lady,an thats why she won.so buzz off!

Gay or Straight what’s so great about marriage,Just find someone you hate and give them half your stuff.

You people are in the biz, and you can’t even tell that the pic above is FROM THE SAME SHOOT???? Surely you primpers and preeners have never released the FIRST photo of a shoot without dissecting the image for any hint of human attribute, like PORES, or FUZZ, or a FRECKLE. Aren’t you getting a bit nutty?

I totally support Ms. California and despise how she is being treated by the media. These pics are completely okay.

OMG - the girls show that much skin parading around on the beauty pageant stage during the swimsuit competition! Can you just leave the girl alone.

But then again, all this is making her famous - lol.

What do you think of Victoria Secret models’ pictures if you think these are racy pictures?

I think some media just want to make her look bad because what she said. I think she is a very nice girl.

THESE are RACY PIX??? You really want to knock this kid into the wall, don’t you? All because of her views, not her ‘view’. I’ve seen more skin in the Daily News!!!! It’s an UNDERWEAR AD!!! O-M-G!!!