GOP State Sen. Who Voted Against Gay Rights Says He's Gay

Last week Republican Sen. Roy Ashburn of Bakersfield was arrested on suspicion of a DUI. He's been on leave since then and today made a big announcement in a radio interview. "I'm gay," he said. "Those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long." He was leaving a gay club the night he was arrested. The Sacramento Bee's Capitol Alert blog notes that Ashburn consistently has voted against gay-rights measures, but today explained that his votes were a reflection of his constituency's desire, not his own.