California State Senator, father of four, Roy Ashburn, who has a 100% anti-gay voting record, pulled over, arrested after leaving “Faces,” a gay bar in Sacramento.
Hypocrisy sucks. Anti-gay hypocrisy is up there among the worst types.
And we’re all tired of it.
This is an example of the absolute worst hypocrisy.
California GOP state Senator Roy Ashburn, a man who “has voted against every gay rights measure in the State Senate since taking office,” was arrested for drunk driving after leaving “Faces,” a midtown Sacramento “gay nightclub.”
Via a local CBS news station:
“When the officer stopped the state-issued vehicle, the driver identified himself as Senator Ashburn. He was arrested without incident and charged with two misdemeanors: driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol level higher than .08% or higher.
“A male passenger, who was not identified as a lawmaker, was also in the car but was not detained.”
“The California Highway Patrol pulled over Senator Roy Ashburn at 2:00 a.m. Wednesday after an officer noticed a black Chevy Tahoe swerving at 13th and L Streets.”
Ashburn, a divorced father of four, who is anti-gay, pro-gun rights — including supports concealed weapons, pro-life, issued this statement:
“I am deeply sorry for my actions and offer no excuse for my poor judgment. I accept complete responsibility for my conduct and am prepared to accept the consequences for what I did. I am also truly sorry for the impact this incident will have on those who support and trust me – my family, my constituents, my friends, and my colleagues in the Senate.”
“Ashburn has been a loud opponent of LGBT rights and has organized and hosted anti-gay marriage rallies for the Traditional Values Coalition. He also has a 100% rating from the anti-gay Capitol Resource Family Impact group for voting against every LGBT rights bill during his tenure.”
Looks like his constituents aren’t too happy with him. Back in September they created the Facebook group, “Recall Roy Ashburn.” Though the site says their efforts didn’t work (obviously,) after this incident, they still may have some hope. Ashburn is not running for reelection, but you can still show your anger by buying a “recall Roy” magnet!
Yes, ladies and gentleman, yet another (Republican) politician caught. Yet another politician who demonstrates the utmost contempt for the LGBTQ community, yet, it seems, has spent years railing against his own demons, while painting us as one.
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- BREAKING: Anti-Gay Marriage, Domestically Violent NY State Senator Gets Kicked Out?
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{ 7 comments }
what's better: republicans who say one thing and do another, or democrats who say one thing and do another? knowing that republicans are hypocrites doesn't automatically mean the democrats are defenders of and fighters for the lgbt community. in fact they are not. we must be critical of ALL official homophobia, no matter which party it comes from. Our enemy is homophobia, not Republican homophobia.
FYI, this asshole was MY local representative. The Democrats in my community are no better than he is on lgbt issues.
Another repuplican gets kicked out of the closet! I love the irony and hypocrisy of this story.
This poor guy must be absolutely miserable with what he is condemning in himself. No wonder he got wasted!
Hypocritcal A-hole aside, I'd like to know how the CHP knew he left Faces. I'll bet the guy didn't admit it! Where they perched outside, waiting for prey to leave the bar? (but I'm happy the effer got caught)
I don't know if its constructive to always classify politicians like Ashburn by their policies in gun control and abortion. Sure, its a descriptive package,and more often than not, these policies go hand in hand with anti-gay votes. However, if we reinforce the idea that conservatism must mean anti-gay, pro-gun, pro-life, and "Christian" values, then we do not give room for politicians (and voters) to change their mind on gay issues. I will always be a Massachusetts liberal (the Kennedy kind, not the kind that elected Scott Brown), but I welcome the support of a pro-gun, pro-life politician. They can exist, and they do. Instead of sticking to the same two opposing ideological camps, we should encourage and recognize conservatives who are pro-gay. As a young person, I can tell you that many of my Republican friends are pro-gun, pro-life AND pro-gay.
That being said, Ashburn is a sorry POS and I truly feel sorry for his pathetic life.
As you know, I greatly respect your opinion. You bring up an excellent and interesting point. And I agree as far as the narrow subject of LGBTQ equality is concerned. If that were all I were trying to accomplish, I'd not have mentioned it. However, as I wrote earlier this week in, "Eight Months From Today, The America We Know Will Be Gone," there is far more at stake.
Personally, I DO believe that "gun rights," or the "pro-gun lobby," and the NRA are wrong. I do not believe that the 2nd Amendment is being interpreted correctly, and I do not believe in gun violence, nor do I believe that the huge number of gun-related deaths are acceptable. So, I'm very comfortable posing "pro-gun" as against what I believe is the greater good.
Same concept for "pro-life," which, BTW is an unfortunate term.
You have the advantage of living within a newer generation, one that, quite frankly, I am envious of. You will so so much good, so many changes in the world that I might not live to see.
The best I can do is take my experience, apply it to the today I know, and navigate within that to bring about a better tomorrow.
Well I basically agree with you. I do think gun control and pro-choice laws are in my best interest, but I sympathize with pro-lifers. I understand where they are coming from. I do not think that a pro-life person does not place the same value in social justice than I do. In the same vein, I sympathize with the pro-gun lobby. However, I fundamentally do not understand discrimination against LGBTQ. I cannot. It is baseless and old fashioned.
So I question what we (the collective LGBTQ and allies) are trying to do if we don't allow someone to join our movement, who might hold conservative values otherwise. Without a religious context, I don't understand how anti-gay opinions are inherently tied to pro-life and pro-gun etc. I see these as very different things and I think more and more people would agree. Yes, history has tied these things together. Elections are sometimes decided by god, guns, and gays, but it doesn't need to be this way. America is too diverse to simply be divided in two. This is why moderates decide elections and why kinda anti-gay Scott Brown won an election in MA which is still pro gay and still does want to see health care reformed. If we reinforce the old doctrine that a proper conservative is anti-gay, we'll lose the battle.
Don't forget that you and I live in huge cities (though I grew up quite differently) and have access to education and resources. Our perspective will always be quite different from people of different backgrounds. We just need to win over hearts and minds wherever possible.
Just my two cents. What the heck do I know?
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