CA State Sen. Roy Ashburn (R-Outed After DUI Arrest) on why the repukes should embrace GLBT rights

[KamaAina]

Read all about it...

http://www.gaypolitics.com/2010/07/19/my-journey-my-party-and-lgbt-rights

I should begin with an apology. I am sincerely sorry for the votes I cast and the actions I took that harmed lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Just as important to me, I am sorry for not stepping forward and speaking up as an elected official on behalf of equal treatment for all people. For nearly 26 years, the voters in my area of California trusted me as their elected representative. I look back now knowing there is so much more I could have done to inform the public about LGBT people and to fight for equal rights under the law. Regrettably and selfishly, I took another path in my life and political career—I chose to conceal who I truly am and to then actually vote against the best interests of people like me. All this was done because I was afraid–terrified, really–that somehow I would be revealed as gay.

My past actions harmed gay people. In fact, all people are harmed when there is unequal treatment of anyone under the constitution and laws of our country. I do not believe in discrimination, and yet my votes advanced unequal of treatment of gay people and promoted the suspicion and fear that limits people from being forthright and accepted in society....

Now, I am somewhat of a novelty in politics. I am a gay Republican. I have always been a Republican, even as an eight-year-old boy with an intense interest in campaigning, elections and government. To me, Republican principles hold that each individual is special and unique; each individual should have the maximum freedom and opportunity under our Constitution; that government has no business in the private lives of our citizens.

If these truly are the guiding values of Republicans—how did we ever get into the situation where my party is viewed as the anti-gay-rights party? Well, maybe because Republicans, including myself, have voted and acted to oppose equality and freedom for gay people.

Of course, he's termed out, and any aspirations he may have held to higher office are shot, so why not tell the truth, or at least a reasonable facsimile?

[MadMaddie]

1. That is the Republican credo

Once they are booted from office or leave then they tell the truth. They don't have the guts to do it while in office.

[Ozymanithrax]

2. Power is an addictive drug. n/t

[izquierdista]

3. Novelty?

Mark Foley, Larry Craig, Roy Cohn, J. Edgar Hoover, the Florida assemblyman terrified into offering BJs, etc. Get your programs, can't tell all the gay Republicans without your program!

[KamaAina]

4. The novelty is that he's out

which only occurred after he was busted for DUI, outside a Sacramento men's bar, with a male companion in the front seat, in his state vehicle. And even then it took several days before he 'fessed up.