Controversial State Senator Roy Ashburn has been outspoken about his opposition to homosexuality, but he has officially come out about his own sexual orientation following a DUI stop. 

Ashburn was arrested in the early morning hours last Wednesday on his way out of a gay nightclub, leading many to point out the apparent inconsistencies with his behavior and his policies. Ashburn was in a state-issued vehicle at the time of his arrest. He also was traveling with a male passenger who remains unidentified.

Asburn issued a public apology for the DUI arrest, saying:

"I am deeply sorry for my actions and offer no excuse for my poor judgement. I accept complete responsibility for my conduct and am prepared to accept the consequences for what I did. I am also truly sorry for the impact this incident will have on those who support and trust me - my family, my constituents, my friends and my colleagues in the Senate."

Then, on Monday of this week, Ashburn came out with another public statement regarding the arrest. Many voices spoke out in speculation of why Ashburn was leaving a gay  nightclub in Sacramento with another male, and Ashburn ultimately confirmed the suspicions. He told a conservative talk show host, Inga Barks, 

"I am gay. Those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long"

This admission only leads to more questions for the 55-year-old who is father to 4 children and has been an outspoken activist against gay rights throughout his 14-year tenure. Ashburn faces only a misdemeanor charge for his .14% BAC at the time of his arrest, and there would be no mandatory punitive responsive from the legislature.

However, it is unlikely Ashburn will be re-elected by his conservative base. In fact, many feel that Ashburn may change his voting habits now that he is out. It remains to be seen what this means for Ashburn's political views, however, as he only admitted a different sexual orientation and not a different political orientation.