US state senator who voted against gay rights admits 'I am gay'
Conservative US state senator who voted against gay rights measures admits on radio 'I am gay'
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Tuesday, 09, Mar 2010 10:06
By Sarah Garrod.
A conservative US state senator who voted against gay rights measures during his 14 years in state legislature has admitted he is gay.
Senator Roy Ashburn said yesterday in an interview with KERN radio in California, where he sits on the state legislature: "I am gay... those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long."
The 55-year-old divorced father-of-four has been on leave since his arrest last week for driving whilst under the influence. He said in the interview he had felt compelled to talk about his private life following the arrest, saying: "When I crossed the line and broke the law and put people at risk, that's different, and I do owe people an explanation."
Last year Mr Ashburn opposed a bill which proposed a day of recognition to honour Harvey Milk, the murdered gay rights activist. He also voted against a number of gay rights measures, including calls for California to recognize out-of-state gay marriages.
Equality California, which campaigns for equal rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in California, said they hoped to be able to work with Mr Ashburn in future.
Equality California executive director Geoff Kors said: "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."