An assistant principal at a California high school has reportedly apologized after he removed a student from a pageant for making a pro-gay comment on stage.

Student Kearian Gertz was asked where he saw himself in 10 years during a competition Tuesday night for senior male students at Fullerton Union High School, KTLA-TV reported. Gertz responded by saying he hoped gay marriage would be legalized soon so that he could marry the love of his life, according to the station.

"I just want to be able to sit on the couch by the person I love and happily proclaim that we're married," Gertz later told the station, as he recalled the incident. "Hopefully, 10 years from now I'll be able to do that if gay marriage is legal."

Assistant Principal Joe Abell reportedly pulled Gertz from the competition upon hearing the remark.

"As soon as I came off stage, he said, 'Why would you say something like that?' and told me I was disqualified," Gertz told KTLA-TV.

Students protested Abell's handling of the incident, with some passing out letters asking where Abell saw himself in 10 years.

He apologized Wednesday morning over the school's public address system after Fullerton Joint Union High School District Superintendent George Giokaris said in a statement that Abell did not handle the matter appropriately, the station reported.

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