CA Sen. Roy Ashburn Earns "Pink Brick" Award From San Francisco Pride

San Francisco Pride has named Sen. Roy Ashburn as the 2010 "dishonoree" recipient of their Pink Brick Award, which is given annually to any person "whose actions are deemed to have caused significant harm to the LGBT community.”

"This is the very first time in Pink Brick Award history that an out gay person is the recipient," said Amy André, executive director of SF Pride in a written statement. "By selecting Sen. Roy Ashburn, the LGBT community is sending a strong message to the world that LGBT people -- especially those with the political power and privilege to further LGBT rights -- have a responsibility to work toward liberation for all." Past recipients of the award include former Miss California Carrie Prejean, San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer, Fox's Bill O'Reilly and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The president of Pride's board of directors, Mikayla Connell, said in a statement the brick award educates people about the importance of "aligning personal honesty with political action...." "We hope this year's Pink Brick recipient ... realizes that it's never to late for him -- or anyone else -- to choose liberation and justice over shame, fear and silence," she said.

In 2008 the Human Rights Campaign was nominated for a Pink Brick, but did not "win."