After acknowledging yesterday that he was gay, Republican state Sen. Roy Ashburn then turned to justifying his long record of voting against gay rights. The Bakersfield politician said that he'd just voted the wishes of his conservative Bakersfield district:
I have always felt that my faith and allegiance was to the people, there, in the district, my constituents. As each of these individual measures came before the Legislature I cast 'no' votes, usually 'no' votes, because the measures were almost always about acknowledging rights or assigning identification to homosexual persons.
Shortly after Asburn assigned to himself his own identification as a homosexual person, some critics quickly pointed out that he had in fact not always voted the wishes of his district. Charles Moran, the national spokesperson for the Log Cabin Republicans, noted that Ashburn had crossed party lines to approve a state budget that included tax increases.
And Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, said Bakersfield residents may be more gay-friendly than Ashburn thinks. "I would be shocked," Kors told the Sacramento Bee, "to see if there is any polling that shows that most people in his district believe that anyone should be fired from their job because of their sexual orientation or kicked out of public accommodations because of their sexual orientation. And yet he voted against bills to prevent that."
Sen. Roy Ashburn
It's true that Ashburn has one of the most extreme anti-gay rights voting records of any state lawmaker, and it's true his district has been staunchly against same-sex marriage rights, as the elections in 2000 and 2008 showed. There is scant public-opinion polling on gay rights specific to Ashburn's district, although most statewide polls show strong support for domestic partnerships and allowing gay couples to visit each other in the hospital, among other rights.
Equality California has given Ashburn consistently low marks - 0% for every year except 2007, when he received 10%. Since 2004, according to the group's annual scorecards, Ashburn has only voted for a single gay-rights measure, a bill that simplified the process of filing joint state income tax returns for registered domestic partners.
Ashburn has voted against 40 gay-rights measures since 2004. From Equality California:
2009
NO - SB 54 - This bill affirms that same sex couples married before the passage of Prop. 8 are entitled to full recognition as married spouses in California.
NO - SB 572 - This bill requires the governor to annually proclaim May 22nd as Harvey Milk Day
NO - AB 1003 - This bill improves and expands access to a state domestic violence fund for LGBT-specific organizations that serve victims of domestic abuse.
NO - AB 382 - This bill would have required state prisons to consider sexual orientation and gender identity to safely house prisoners. Vetoed by the governor.
NO - AB 1185 - This bill would have codified existing legal protections for transgender people born in California which allows them to obtain a court order reflecting their correct gender and any accompanying name change. Passed by the legislature. Vetoed by the governor.
2008
NO - AB 2567 - Would have put California on record as the first state to officially honor an LGBT leader by making May 22 of each year Harvey Milk Day. Vetoed by the Governor.
NO - AB 2654 - Prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, gender identity, color, religion, ancestry, ethnic group identification, national origin, disability, medical condition, marital status, and sexual orientation in all insurance and state-funded programs or activities. Signed by the Governor.
NO - SB 1729 - Requires licensed health professionals in senior care facilities to receive mandatory training on how to foster an environment for seniors in these settings that is free from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Signed by the Governor.
NO - AB 3015 - Requires individuals who care for foster youth, and foster youth, to receive training on the laws that protect students from bias-motivated harassment and discrimination.
NO - SB 153 - Would have ended unfair and unequal property tax increases on the survivor of a same-sex partner, if the couple was not married or registered as domestic partners with the state. Vetoed by the Governor.
2007
NO - SB 518 - Creates a Youth Bill of Rights to protect all young people, including youth who are LGBT, from abuse and discrimination in California’s Department of Juvenile Justice facilities.
NO - SB 777 - Prohibits curriculum that is discriminatorily biased against LGBT people and other protected groups. Establishes consistent civil rights protections in all public education programs. Protects students from harassment and bullying.
NO - AB 394 - Strengthens protections for youth, including those who identify as LGBT, in California public schools by ensuring that the state’s nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies are rigorously enforced.
NO - AB 43 - Would have allowed same-sex couples the right to marry in California.
NO - AB 102 - Provides domestic partners the choice to select a family name when they register with the state.
YES - SB 105 - Simplifies the process of filing joint state income tax returns for registered domestic partners. Creates a worksheet California registered domestic partners will use to file jointly beginning with the 2007 tax year.
NO - SB 559 - Reverses discriminatory tax increases for domestic partners who separated or lost a partner before a 2006 law went into effect protecting domestic partners against unfair property reassessments.
NO - AB 14 - Strengthens 51 state anti-bias laws to prohibit discrimination against LGBT people and other communities. Corrects defi ciencies in state law that could leave some Californians unprotected.
2005-06
NO - AB 849 -Guarantees the California Constitution’s protection of religious freedom and ensures equal treatment under the law by allowing same-sex couples to marry in California.
NO - AB 866 - Adds to the voluntary pledge contained in the Code of Fair Campaign Practices that candidates or campaign committees who sign the pledge will not use negative appeals based on prejudice against LGBT people.
NO - AB 1400 - Amends the Unruh Civil Rights Act (Unruh Act) to prohibit discrimination by business establishments based on sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or familial status.'
NO - AB 1586 - Prohibits insurance companies and health care service plans from discriminating on the basis of gender, including gender identity, in the creation or maintenance of health insurance plans and the provision of benefits or coverage.
NO - SB 973 - Allows registered domestic partners who are or were public employees to select their partner to receive a death benefit should the retiree pre-decease their partner.
NO - SJR 11 - Calls for passage of the Military Readiness Act currently pending in Congress to end the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that prohibits openly gay and lesbian people from serving in the U.S. military.
NO - AB 606 - Provides a model policy for school districts to adopt explaining that discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity are prohibited by law and requires schools to publicize the policy and document complaints.
NO - SB 1437 - Prohibits discrimination and bias based on sexual orientation and gender identity in textbooks, classroom materials and school-sponsored activities.
NO - SB 1827 - Enables registered domestic partners to jointly file state income tax returns and have their earned income treated as community property.
NO - AB 2800 - Prohibits discrimination in housing based on any of the categories covered in the Fair Employment and Housing Act
NO - AB 2051 - Establishes the Equality in Prevention and Services for Domestic Abuse Fund to develop and support education and services specific to LGBT domestic violence.
NO - AB 1160 - Amends jury instructions to state that the use of societal bias, including so-called “panic strategies,” to influence the proceedings of a criminal trial is inconsistent with California public policy.
NO - AB 2051 - Establishes the Equality in Prevention and Services for Domestic Abuse Fund to develop and support education and services specific to LGBT domestic violence.
NO - SB 1441 - Prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in all state operated or funded services, activities and programs.
NO - AB 2920 - Requires the Department of Aging to include the needs of LGBT seniors in its programs and services.
2004
NO - AB 2208 - Prohibits Discrimination Against Domestic Partners in Insurance
NO - AB 2900 - Establishes Sweeping Employment Non-Discrimination Requirements
NO - AJR 60 - Urges U.S. Congress to Pass Permanent Partners Immigration Act
NO - AJR 85 - Opposes Discriminatory Federal Marriage Amendment
NO - SB 1234 - Strengthens Hate Crime Law to Protect LGBT Californians and others
ABSENT - AB 1367 - Creates a Pilot HIV/AIDS Pharmacy Program
NO - AB 1520 - Creates the California Veteran's Memorial Commission
NO - AB 1825 - Increases Sexual Harassment Training and Education
NO - AB 2580 - Makes Technical Amendments to Domestic Partnership Law
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