THE TELEGRAPH: Roy Ashburn, a California state senator who has staunchly opposed gay rights has announced that he is homosexual.
Mr Ashburn, a conservative Republican, came out in an interview with KERN radio.
His pronouncement ends days of speculation following his arrest last week for driving under the influence of alchohol.
Mr Ashburn said he felt compelled to address rumours that he had visited a gay nightclub near the Capitol before his arrest.
"I am gay ... those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long," Ashburn told conservative talk show host Inga Barks.
The 55-year-old father of four said he had tried to keep his personal life separate from his professional life until his March 3 arrest.
"When I crossed the line and broke the law and put people at risk, that's different, and I do owe people an explanation," he said.
Ashburn was arrested after he was spotted driving erratically near the Capitol, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The next day, reports surfaced that he had left Faces, a gay nightclub, with an unidentified man in the passenger seat of his Senate-owned vehicle.
"The best way to handle that is to be truthful and to say to my constituents and all who care that I am gay," he said. "But I don't think it's something that has affected, nor will it affect, how I do my job."
Over 14 years in office, Ashburn has voted against a number of gay rights measures, including efforts to expand anti-discrimination laws and recognise out-of-state gay marriages. >>> | Monday, March 08, 2010
