Posted on 05/28/2010 4:40:12 PM PDT by DesertRenegade
Republican State Senator Roy Ashburn, a political conservative from the Central Valley, was the only GOP vote in Sacramento on Thursday in favor of a resolution demanding an end to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the U.S. military.
For him, the issue was clear.
"Since the time of Julius Caesar, there have been gay people in the military, and it's time to end the practice of requiring people to conceal who they are," said Ashburn, R-Bakersfield.
Which is exactly what Ashburn admits he has done throughout his 14-year career in the legislature. A deception that ended earlier this year when Ashburn was arrested for drunk driving after having visited a gay nightclub.
The divorced father of four later admitted something he had kept from his constituents and colleagues -- that he was gay.
On Thursday in a remarkably candid interview, Ashburn, who had long been a no vote on gay rights legislation, called himself a hypocrite.
"My practice in my entire political career when it came to gay issues was to prevent any kind of spotlight from being shined my way, because I was in hiding. So casting any kind of vote might, could in some way, lead to my secret being revealed," he said.
"That was terrifying to me. It was paralyzing. So I cast some votes that have denied gay people of their basic, equal treatment under the law, and I'm not proud of it. I'm not going to do that again," Ashburn said.
Ashburn goes on to say that being gay has nothing to do with his view of public policy. He is for limited government and individual freedom.
He says his Republican colleagues have been supportive. As for his constituents in Bakersfield, he's not seeking re-election this year. He's being termed out of office.
Gay rights parades and public fornication for all!!!
and if anyone objects its a court martial!!
Cue the Monty Python LIFE OF BRIAN scene.
Homosexuals like to refer to the ancient armies of Rome and Greece; however, they often fail to make a distinction between homoerotic behavior and homosexuality. Sodomy is not limited to homosexuals. What they truly fail to understand that prior to Emperor Constantine, Christians would not serve in the military because of such immoral behavior. Even after Emperor Constantine, it took many decades before Christians were volunteering to serve in the military. It was not until the military was “Christianized” that Christians began openly to serve in the Roman legions. No doubt that there were homosexuals in the Christianized legions, but homosexual behavior would result in the death penalty. Once Christianity became the dominate force in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, homosexual and homoerotic behavior was illicit. It seems with these new policies on gays, that the United States is returning to a pre-Christian and neo-pagan morality.
Arguably including Julius.
How convenient that he comes out after he’s been elected. Disgusting.
The modern conception of homosexuality as an innate unchangeable sexual orientation, a defining characteristic of a person, is much less than 100 years old.
The ancient attitudes towards homoerotic behavior were complex, but they certainly weren’t the open acceptance of “homosexuality” as a norm that today’s perverts think they were. Many if not most upper-class Greek and Roman males were bisexual in today’s terms.
In general, Greek and Roman society were much more concerned with status and dignity than sexual morality. The “role” one played in an encounter was much more important than the gender of your partner. Today those attitudes are completely reversed.
Why then did he become a Republican instead of a Democrat? Heck, being a Dem would have covered his pro-gay votes nicely enough, it would seem.
Why does being homosexual always have to center around homosexual bars and hangouts? Why does it always involve drugs and/or alcohol? Granted, there may be a very few that don't frequent these places, but they are in the extreme minority.
Homosexual "churches" even hold events in bars and nightclubs that cater to homosexuals. These places reflect their lives.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.