Portland (Oregon) mayor acknowledges sexual relationship with young man he mentored

[depakid]

Source: The Oregonian

Mayor Sam Adams acknowledged today that he had a sexual relationship in 2005 with an 18-year-old man he had mentored. He said he lied when asked about it in 2007 and told the young man, Beau Breedlove, to lie about it, too.

The revelations come nearly a year and a half after Adams and Breedlove insisted, in the weeks after rumors surfaced in summer 2007, that their relationship was strictly platonic. Adams, who is openly gay, said he had acted as a mentor to Breedlove, then 17, at a time when the legislative intern was struggling to come out of the closet.

Adams said the sexual relationship did not start until after Breedlove turned 18. Breedlove, now 21, could not be reached for comment.

"I didn't get into public life to allow my instinct to help others to be snuffed out by fear of sleazy misrepresentations or political manipulation," Adams wrote in an open letter to Portlanders in September 2007. "I understand the need for good judgment, and I work very hard to keep within the bounds of propriety -- as I did in this case."



Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/mayor_...

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This very sad, because every indication is that Adams is otherwise a hardworking progressive and an ethical man.

[Dreamer Tatum]

1. Consenting adults, que no?

Is there more to this?

[Ian David]

2. If Breedlove were a woman, this would be a Disney movie. n/t

[readmoreoften]

40. Best. Post. Ever.

Adams is a goodlooking guy. Of course another guy is going to be all over him. In other news "Man in early twenties picks up college sophmore 'teen' at mall"

[ZombieHorde]

3. If the guy was 18, then what is the problem?

[depakid]

5. The problem as I see it is an unequal power situation

This poster on the Oregonian pretty much nails it for me:

"The gay part has no bearing on this discussion. What is cause for concern is an individual in a position of power exploiting <a young person he was mentoring> in a sexual way. Then he lied about it. I don't know Adams... but this casts a shadow on his credibility."

That and the fact that it's brought every wingnut in the state of Oregon out of the woodwork.

[AlbertCat]

12. brought every wingnut in the state of Oregon out of the woodwork.

No doubt because he lied about it. Now why would he do that?

How do you know there was any exploitation?

The only story here is that two gay consenting adults felt like they had to lie about their relationship in order to not have to put up with homophobes. Sounds pretty common and normal to me.

Next....

[LisaL]

14. He is openly gay.

So why would he lie "in order to not have to put up with homophones?" Hello?

[karynnj]

27. But remove the gay part, and how does this differ from

Bill Clinton and Monica? There was the same difference in power and lying. It may be that Clinton had more political capital to begin with or it may be that you can't remove the gay part.

[lumberjack_jeff]

31. Bill was married and Monica worked for him. n/t

[JI7]

46. it might have been worse in Clinton's case as he was married

and i think the President of the United States is a far more powerful figure than a Mayor.

[marshall]

28. That's pre-Clinton talk

That sort of attitude was all the rage when I was taking feminist theory classes in the late 80s--all the stuff about unequal power, how consent is not possible in such disparate levels, etc. We've turned a corner since then and now the essential part is whether the parties are both adults. And it's a private matter, and when people have their priacy poked into they all routinely lie about it.

[lumberjack_jeff]

30. questions

a) did he work for the mayor's administration?
b) was he underage?
c) was it consensual?
d) was it sex for favors or money?
e) did he cheat on a spouse?

No? Then shut up.

Mentoring? Pretty nebulous status to hang the "cause for concern" on.

This is simply gossip to sell papers.

[depakid]

42. Sorry- but this was both politically stupid AND ethically challenged

I would hope that we expect more of our leaders than to behave like aging rock stars courting 17 year old groupies.

Especially when they know damn well that to do so would threaten all of our agendas.

That's one of the trade offs that RESPONSIBLE people make when they seek to represent us is public office.

[RCinBrooklyn]

34. Don't underestimate an 18-year-olds raging hormones and the desire for a young man to have sex.

[JI7]

45. that excuse would never work if it was an 18 year old female

who had sex with an older male in a power position.

[RCinBrooklyn]

49. True, but IT IS NOT an 18 year old female. It is two consenting me. There's no issue here.

[Zuiderelle]

53. Yes it would. 18 is 18. Whether you are male or female. 18 is a consenting adult.

There are plenty of people in positions of power in the world who get involved with people much younger than themselves, and they are USUALLY older man/younger woman. This is being put under a microscope because it is a GAY relationship.

[LisaL]

8. You don't consider him lying about it before his election a problem?

[ZombieHorde]

10. The lies may be an election problem, but I don't judge gay people for lying about having gay sex. nt

[LisaL]

11. Since he is described as openly gay, people do know

he is having sex with men.
But he was supposed to be mentoring this guy.

[dothemath]

21. Maybe ...............

Maybe the youngster wanted a career as a 'hands-on' sex therapist and the mayor stepped up to help the kid. Ever thought of that?

[RCinBrooklyn]

36. Honestly, what do you think the result would have been. Voters can't handle anything regarding sex.

[leftinportland]

18. then why did he lie?

Adams was 44 and the intern was 17 when they met. Adams says they didn't have sex until the intern turned 18 but he's already admitted to lying about the relationship so who knows. What bothers me is he claimed to be the interns mentor - yeah right.

[ZombieHorde]

32. He probably lied because the relationship looked bad.

[lumberjack_jeff]

33. Because, unless their relationship started before he turned 18, it's none of our business. n/t

[Sebastian Doyle]

4. A gay man named "Breedlove"?

Cue the Alanis CD, because THAT's Ironic!

[undeterred]

39. It sounds like something out of a Romance novel.

Beau Breedlove.

[girl gone mad]

50. and Beau Breedlove, at that.

This porn movie has just written itself.

[BlueJac]

6. Is this news?

I live here, get a life.

[depakid]

9. Don't shoot the messenger

Whether this dogs the new mayor for long remains to be seen- thus far Commissioner Leonard's standing behind him:

http://wweek.com/wwire/?p=19657

[gratuitous]

7. Nicely done, Sam

You dumbass. It wasn't the relationship, it was the lying about it. I don't give a rip what Sam Adams does with his winkle or who he does it with. But when you're asked a direct question, lying isn't the way to go. "None of your business," said with a smile and go on to the next question is appropriate. But to lie about it, and then tell the other party to lie about it? If you didn't think you had done something wrong, you wouldn't have lied.

Dumbass, dumbass, dumbass. The truth in these things, especially in local politics always comes out.

[AlbertCat]

15. If you didn't think you had done something wrong, you wouldn't have lied.

Wrong.

Sometimes lying seems better than putting up with idiots and the stink they can make.

[gratuitous]

20. Then just say "None of your business"

When the question is asked point-blank, if someone running for office gives an answer, the wrong answer, and it's wrong every time, is to lie. Adams lied, and it will dog his mayoralty. He wasn't running to be mayor of Idiot Town, he was an openly gay man running to be mayor of Portland, and was leading by a prohibitive margin in every poll all through the primary. If he had deflected the question, it wouldn't have changed a thing; he still would have won a majority in the primary and been mayor. If he had answered the question truthfully, he would still have won at least a plurality and had to run in the general against Sho Dozono. He would have beaten Dozono, a nice guy, but a political neophyte.

Instead he considered the question, knew the truth, and said something else. Now, instead of being mayor of Portland, he'll get to be mayor of Idiot Town as the small number of reactionary doofuses, led by Head Doofus Lars Larson, will have four years of potshots to take at Adams. Adams is a savvy politician and a dedicated public servant. But now he gets four years of legitimate questions about his integrity and honesty instead of spending time working on Portland's problems.

Dumbass verdict stands.

[PassingFair]

13. Why can't they keep their hands off the INTERNS!!

Jeez. How many examples of RUINED careers and
tainted youths do they NEED?

Parents send their idealistic youngsters to learn about
politics, not to have sex with MUCH OLDER ADULTS.

I wouldn't let my kid be an intern, and that
says something HORRIBLE about politics, seeing
as how I allowed her to study in India for a year.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

16. Key point...when it comes to anything like a subordinate, keep it zipped

gay, straight or otherwise...its better for all concerned to keep the relationship professional. Appearance of impropriety is often worse than the act itself.

[JI7]

48. maybe those who are able to become interns do so BECAUSE

they are willing to give certain favors to their boss.

and those who aren't may be less likely to get those positions.

[PassingFair]

51. That is a horrible thing to say.

These are idealistic young kids.

I know several teens who have
interned, they work hard for
democratic ideals, and they
want a future in politics.

It is SHAMEFUL that some politicians
view them as chum.

[Still Sensible]

17. The fact that he lied and

asked Breedlove to lie as well, tells me he knew or felt there was something about it that was wrong. It's not that it was gay, it was that it was a mentor relationship. Hopefully, Breedlove will come forward and bail him out, but he's got problems if the young man says he was taken advantage of in that situation.

[leftinportland]

19. Sam Adams is an egotist

and an ethical man would not boink someone they claimed to be mentoring.

[mackerel]

22. Sometimes I have to wonder at apologists. Just because

we're dems and liberals doesn't mean we throw morality out the window.

Same, same as John Edwards. You lie and you come clean much much later, that's a problem.

Why did he ask Breedlove to also lie?

Mentoring? or Coercion?

[Tinksrival]

23. I agree 100%

Has nothing to do with sexual preference, it has to do with being a douche bag......period. 45 years old mentoring a seventeen year old, just turned eighteen??? Boy, girl doesn't matter. Republican, Democrat doesn't matter. DOUCHE BAG!

[Spike89]

26. Cover up the worst part...always

My son works at the Willamette Week, the paper that broke the story. Part of the story goes beyond the lying and asking the intern to lie. Turns out that another indy paper in Portland (the Mercury) was set to break the story months ago, but didn't. The Mayor did happen to hire the reporter supposedly working on the story for the Mercury. Both the mayor and the original reporter deny any connection, but once your credibility has been destroyed, everything that looks bad, looks that much worse.

[Tinksrival]

29. Portland Politics

Sounds like it will be interesting to say the least. I am in the Chicago area right now where we have our own colorful politicians, but I will soon be joining you in Portland. My husband was laid off but took a job in Portland in September and I am trying to sell our house. We put our house on the market the day of the largest one day drop in the stock market. Thanks Bush......I'm so glad this day has finally come but President Obama's speech scared the crap out of me. My kids and I really miss my husband but our house is our greatest investment and we don't want to leave it in other hands. (did that once before and got burned).....Sorry I'm rambling, just so emotional.
Hope to be in the valley soon.

[ZombieHorde]

35. Why not?

[JI7]

47. is Sam Adams the type who preached personal morals ?

and condemned others on personal behavior ?

[and-justice-for-all]

24. I don't think ones sex life is any one else's fucking business...

mainly that between two adults.

[Ecumenist]

25. What in the greasy french fried hell??

What's wrong with people taking advantage of the vunerable and confused?

[readmoreoften]

38. Why is he "vulnerable and confused"? He's an adult who consented to sex.

If he didn't consent, he didn't. If he did, he did. Straight people would make this better by "announcing a wedding" or some such crap. Gay people don't have that option for covering up sex.

There is nothing wrong with two adults having sex. If bosses weren't supposed to date their underlings my parents would've never gotten married. Get real.

[cloudbase]

37. I was going to say that

he was exposing himself to more than the arts, but that was Bud Clark.

[bitchkitty]

41. so....he's no longer hardworking or ethical?

Because he had sex with a consenting adult?

[LisaL]

43. Oh did you miss this part of the article? Do you think that's ethical?

"Adams sent a letter to constituents denying the charges. He held a news conference to refute them and suggested such gossip would scare other gay men from coming out of the closet. Several longtime friends came forward to support Adams' story by detailing how he had supported and mentored them as they struggled to come out."

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/mayor_...

[bitchkitty]

56. Gosh, a man lied about having sex?

That's never happened before! That's outrageous.

I only care about 2 things.

1. The man was 18
2. The sex was consensual.

Sometimes there are more crotch-sniffers at DU than at that other place.

[Arugula Latte]

44. Sam's my mayor and I like him a lot.

It's too bad he lied, but I think the people of Portland will let this one slip.

[TriMetFan]

52. I don't know how my fellow Gay and Lesbians Oregonians

feel, but this is the crap that hurts us gay and lesbians. What the hell was he thinking. I know that the young man was "18", but it's the "teen" part that makes it all sound sick and the fact that Sam lied to all of us.

[depakid]

54. Just Out called for his resignation today

Marty Davis, publisher of the gay-oriented publication Just Out, is calling for Portland Mayor Sam Adams' resignation.

"I feel at this point, his character has a deep flaw," Davis said today. "You lie when you're 15 until you start growing up. You don't lie when you're 42. ... We're having to deal with our icon, our gay mayor, lied to us."

Adams is the first openly gay man elected to the highest office in a top-30 U.S. city.

"By his own admission, by committing the act of lying to the citizens of Portland, Adams has failed to show the principled character that this publication feels is a basic requirement for an elected official," the editorial said.

Adams, meanwhile, told The Oregonian this afternoon that he has not yet decided whether he will resign or mount a fight to remain at City Hall in the wake of his confession that he lied about having sex with an 18-year-old. "I've not made my mind up," Adams said, sounding discouraged and deflated. "I still haven't determined whether it's in the city's best interest for me to stay or go."

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/01/po...

Also, it looks as though the mentoring angle wasn't completely honest.

Willamette week has the updated story:

http://wweek.com/editorial/3511/12113/

[TriMetFan]

55. TI'm glad.

Like I said before this is the kind of crap that hurts us.