State Senator Admits He's Gay, Stands by Anti-Gay Voting Record
How lucky is Roy Ashburn that he lives in a country where he can vote for discrimination and bias against those who share his proclivities? Only in the U.S.A. folks.
Ashburn made headlines last week not only for his DUI, but also for his voting record against gay rights, all while living a double life (he's married with four kids.) Everything was great for Roy until his arrest, but now, even after admitting he's gay, he still stands by his anti-gay votes, including supporting Prop 8.
During an interview with Bakersfield radio station KERN, Ashburn admits he's gay:
"I am gay. Those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long. But I am gay, but it is something that is personal and I don't believe — I felt with my heart being gay … did not effect, would not effect how I do my job. What happened through my own actions the other night changed all that."
On why he supports anti-gay legislation:
"My votes reflect the wishes of the people in my district. And I have always felt that my faith and allegiance was to the people there in the district, my constituents. So as each of these individual measure came before the legislature, I cast "no" votes. … I cherish the fact that we have a remarkable system of government, and that system of government provides for representatives elected by the people to go to the legislative bodies, whether it be Washington D.C. or Sacramento, and cast votes on behalf of the people, not my own point of view, not my own internal conflict, certainly to use my best judgment, but to vote as my constituents would have me vote. There's never been a doubt in my mind on the position of the vast majority of the people in my district, the 18th senatorial district, on these different issues. I voted as I felt I should on behalf of the people who elected me."
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