Anti-gay rights, DUI busted CA state Senator Roy Ashburn: "I am gay."

[Garbo 2004]

State Sen. Roy Ashburn confirmed Monday morning what's been rumored for years, especially since his drunken driving arrest last Wednesday: he's gay.

"I am gay and so those are the words that have been difficult for me for so long," he told talk radio show host Inga Barks on KERN Newstalk 1180.

Responding to allegations he's been a hypocrite for consistently voting against gay rights, Ashburn said he voted the will of his district.

Ashburn said the issue of his orientation was the reason he did not run for the 20th Congressional District GOP primary this year. That's the seat held by Democrat Jim Costa.

Ashburn also asked people to pray for him. http://www.bakersfield.com/news_alerts/x1543187851/Roy-Ashburn-I-am-gay

So he co-hosted with Lou Sheldon a "traditional moral values, think of the children" anti gay marriage constitutional amendment rally in 2005 because "that was the will of his district?" http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2010/03/roy-ashburn-press-release-re-traditional-marriage-3312005.php?page=1 Actively pandering to and supporting the haters is a bit above and beyond, Roy.

And the issue of his orientation was the reason he dropped from pursuing a congressional race? Really? Reportedly he was all gung ho to run until he apparently received some bad news, like maybe the GOP wouldn't support him for dog catcher. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x113241002/Roy-Ashburn-wont-run-for-Congress-tax-board The GOP's had no problem with its closet case gays. But he was on the GOP's shit list for siding with Dems to pass a state budget.

Still in denial, still pandering.

Edited to add: Ashburn says he will continue to vote the same way as in the past:

Radio talk show host Inga Barks wanted assurances that Ashburn would continue to vote in a conservative manner on LGBT rights issues. Ashburn responded, “I believe firmly that my responsibility is to my constituents. I will take a careful look at each measure and apply that standard. How would they vote on this? How would they want me to vote on this,” adding that most people understood what that means.

“I don’t know how else to ask this, but are you going to live this lifestyle now in the district?” Barks asked. Ashburn, who announced he is not running for public office again, said, “I pray to God I can find peace. I want to go back to the senate and work hard for the people of my district…Now you know everything about me.” http://www.gaypolitics.com/2010/03/08/conservative-california-state-senator-comes-out/

In response, the Joe.My.God blog suggests someone start a Facebook group: "1,000,000 Gay Men Against Roy Ashburn Having Sex Ever Again." http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2010/03/sen-roy-ashburn-comes-out-but-plans-to.html

[YOY]

1. Ah hypocracy...

That he can live with himself in the closet and enforce hatred on those who would chose not to...

[marmar]

2. And these hypocrites are always outed in these public humiliation spectacles....

It must be some kind of cosmic karma. Self-hate is a terrible thing.

[GodlessBiker]

3. I'm ashamed he's officially on our team now.

[progressoid]

6. On your team?

Sounds like he's still rooting for his old team.

Radio talk show host Inga Barks wanted assurances that Ashburn would continue to vote in a conservative manner on LGBT rights issues. Ashburn responded, “I believe firmly that my responsibility is to my constituents.

...

“I pray to God I can find peace. I want to go back to the senate and work hard for the people of my district…

:puke:

[GodlessBiker]

7. Indeed.

[Hepburn]

4. What total BULLSHIT....

...so it's OK to vote like a bigot cuz one comes from a district that is full of bigots???

GMAFB! :puke:

[Bluebear]

9. Yes, and it's OK because he is praying to God & asking his contintuents to pray to God for him

:puke:

[bighart]

11. It does bring up an interesting question.

If the district that a particular congressman represents has views that are in direct opposition to the personal views that congress personally has how should they vote? I know the obvious answer is they should vote the way the district directs them to, or they won't be in office long, at least theoretically. Leadership to me is doing what is right regardless of what is popular but you don't win many elections by going against what the voters want you to do.

[HughMoran]

5. I can't comment on this other than to say

...that I know people like this and they make me sick. :puke:

[Garbo 2004]

8. Audio of Ashburn's "coming out" interview on RW radio show. The irony is

thick.

Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km0ETAAh3dg&feature=player_embedded

Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqgtwmcMxag&feature=player_embedded

[Iggo]

10. Pro Gay Rights DUer Iggo: "Well, no duh!"

[Touchdown]

12. No sympathy!

I got over that as a teenager, and never felt ashamed of who I was. He can Eff himself! I have no patience for hypocrites in CALFORNIA of all places, who works against the rest of us. I hope everybody knows him and he never gets laid again!

[Garbo 2004]

13. Equality California Issues Statement on Senator Roy Ashburn:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - March 8 - Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors issued the following statement regarding

Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) who told listeners this morning on KERN Radio AM 1180 that he is gay.

"We can empathize with Senator Ashburn's long and difficult journey to admit that he is gay. Equality California looks forward to working with the Senator to use his experience to educate the people in his district on why he deserves the same rights and privileges as a gay man as any other Californian.

"Senator Ashburn said he has voted against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-rights measures because of the preferences of voters in his district, but to date, no legislator has lost his or her seat for supporting Equality California-sponsored legislation. This includes legislators in a number of conservative districts, including in Bakersfield, Fresno and the Salinas Valley.

"Although we question the Senator's claim that an overwhelming majority of voters in his district support employment and housing discrimination against LGBT individuals - bills he voted against, we are working hard to build support across the state among voters in all districts."

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/03/08-7

[Garbo 2004]

14. Now on Facebook: 1,000,000 Gay Men & Allies Against Roy Ashburn Having Sex Ever Again.

Seems someone followed through on the JMG blog's suggestion.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=380052532672&ref=mf&v=info

[Garbo 2004]

15. Pastor Chad, Ashburn's family values anti gay buddy: I always sort of knew Ashburn was gay.

Pastor Chad was Barks' next guest on her radio show after Ashburn. At a presser afterward:

Excerpt:

“I didn’t know Roy was going to use this opportunity to announce his homosexual inclinations,” said Vegas, a pastor at Sovereign Grace Church of Bakersfield.

Vegas, who stood beside Ashburn in April 2005 when the senator held a “Traditional Family Values” rally in a Bakersfield park supporting a ban on same-sex marriage, said he would do so again if Ashburn held a similar rally in the future...

...“I always sort of knew” Ashburn was gay, Vegas told reporters, saying he’d heard rumors for years. “I hoped it would never be confirmed.”

Full article: http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x111565652/Ashburn-s-coming-out-to-Inga-Barks-heard-round-the-world

Pastor Chad's perhaps not so nice side: http://gaynewsblog.net/2008/06/pastor-chad-vegas-warns-kern.html

[LAGC]

16. Great company he keeps. (n/t)