A California Republican state Senator who consistently voted against gay rights measures during his 14 years in office said he is gay, ending days of speculation that began after his arrest last week.

On March 3, Senator Roy Ashburn was arrested in Sacramento after he was spotted driving erratically near the Capitol. A breath test later showed the senator’s blood-alcohol level was .14 percent, or .06 points about the level limit.

The next day, reports surfaced that when the father-of-four was stopped by police, he had a passenger in his state-owned vehicle, a man he had met at a gay nightclub called Faces.

During an interview with KERN radio in Bakersfield, California the senator told conservative talk show host Inga Barks, “I am gay. Those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long.”

“When I crossed the line and broke the law and put people at risk, that’s different, and I do owe people an explanation.  The best way to handle that is to be truthful and to say to my constituents and all who care that I am gay,” he continued. “But I don’t think it’s something that has affected, nor will it affect how I do my job.”

The California senator voted against a number of gay rights measures, including efforts to expand anti-discrimination laws and recognize out-of-state gay marriages.

Last year, he opposed a bill to establish a day of recognition to honor slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

Earlier today, he told the Sacramento Bee that he made the votes because they reflected the feelings of the voters in his district.

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