Anti-gay California State Senator Roy
Ashburn was arrested Wednesday morning for drunk driving shortly
after leaving a gay bar in Sacramento, local CBS affiliate CBS13
reported.
Police stopped Ashburn's state issued
vehicle after they witnessed the car swerving erratically and charged
Ashburn with driving under the influence.
CBS13 reports an unidentified man was
in the car with Ashburn, who had that night been at Faces, a popular
Sacramento gay bar.
Ashburn, a Republican who has
campaigned on a family values platform and a father of four, has a
history of opposing gay rights. He scored zero on Equality
California's 2009
Legislative Scorecard, a gay rights record issued by the state's
leading advocate.
During the 2009 legislative session,
Ashburn voted against a resolution that urged repeal of Proposition
8, the state's gay marriage ban, a bill that proclaims May 22nd
as Harvey Milk Day in memory of San Francisco's first openly gay
politician, and a measure that would allow transgender people to
obtain a court order reflecting their correct gender, among others.
Ashburn, who was freed on a $1,400 bond
after spending 8 hours in jail, issued an apology: “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.”