Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, January 20, 2009
Homo / Politics Portland's New Openly Gay Mayor Admits to Affair With 18-Year-Old
Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 2:47 AM
Portland Mayor Sam Adams acknowledged Monday that he had a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old in summer 2005 and, on the eve of his campaign for the city's highest office, lied about it and urged the young man to lie as well.Adams said he made a mistake in not admitting the relationship when reporters first asked about it in September 2007. He did not describe the relationship itself as a mistake.
"I should have been honest about what happened, but I was not," he told The Oregonian from Washington, D.C., where he is attending a national mayors conference and the presidential inauguration. "I apologize."
The 18 year-old has a name that would get a wannabe novelist laughed out his editor's office: Beau Breedlove. And while the lie was stupid, the sex was consensual and Breedlove was over the age of consent. Still, Adams' election was held up as good news for gay people everywhere. This revelation, coming so soon after Adams was sworn in, has to be seen as bad news for gay people everywhere.
2
thanks for acknowledging breedlove was an adult at the time. towleroad is describing him as a
"teenager". while technically true...more bad news for gay people everywhere.
"teenager". while technically true...more bad news for gay people everywhere.
3
18 or 17; 99% of Americans won't make the distinction.
New Rule for gay politicians: Keep it in your damn pants. And that goes for you too John Edwards!
New Rule for gay politicians: Keep it in your damn pants. And that goes for you too John Edwards!
5
@3 pretty much said it.
The gay-bashing proles will just add this to their cliche'-filled list-o-shit;
Gay==Pedophile. just like Arab-looking==Terrorist.
The gay-bashing proles will just add this to their cliche'-filled list-o-shit;
Gay==Pedophile. just like Arab-looking==Terrorist.
8
Two details stand out for me:
1) Print journalism forced the truth out. Adams only admitted having lied about it when confronted by a print-ready newsweekly with the proof they were about to publish.
2) This is GWM-on-GWM political violence at its modernest. The slams were originally floated seriously by the other upper-crust gay running for mayor, condo developer Bob Ball.
1) Print journalism forced the truth out. Adams only admitted having lied about it when confronted by a print-ready newsweekly with the proof they were about to publish.
2) This is GWM-on-GWM political violence at its modernest. The slams were originally floated seriously by the other upper-crust gay running for mayor, condo developer Bob Ball.
9
I'm gay and I was having sex at the age of 18, and I knew EXACTLY what I was doing. There is no "there" there.
10
One notable difference between this and other sexual "scandals" committed by breeders is that nobody was cheated on. There's no room for moral outrage in that regard.
11
Psst: note the mood is "frustrated" right now, though the brows remain immaculate:
http://www.myspace.com/ueabsille
http://www.myspace.com/ueabsille
13
Well, if this was anything like a GOP scandal... the gay male politician would've been caught sleeping with a girl, or marrying one.
14
The bad news for gays is that we will not be held to the same standard as straights. Any 42 year old unmarried straight politician would not have a whiff of pedophile about them for having had sex with a consenting 18 year old adult female. Outside of Adams having lied about all of it, I fail to see how this is particularly newsworthy,... now, a married senator crusing for cock in an airport restroom...that's news... but this.... not so much...
15
Hell, I'd admit it, too! I'd damn well crow it from the rooftops if I managed to score with an 18 year old (woman, in my case, but still...), even if her name was Trixie Twolips. Good on ya, Mayor Adams!
18
Hey politicians! When some asshole asks you if you had consensual adult sex here's what you say: "None of your freakin' business!" Don't lie. The truth of the matter is it is nobodies business. This lying shit is so stupid.
19
@16, do you really feel that the mentorship role should also include all the complex emotional entanglements of a physical/romantic relationship?
That's not using one's power as an older male adult in a mentorship way, in my opinion. It's just an old guy getting some chicken trim.
That's not using one's power as an older male adult in a mentorship way, in my opinion. It's just an old guy getting some chicken trim.
20
A friend of mine worked for the former mayor of Portland and she was saying a year ago that Adams is a jerk to work with and definitely likes his chicken tender. This is probably only the first twink eruption for this administration.
21
Oh, I don't know. Getting it out of the way right after he's sworn in means everyone might have forgotten about it by the time he runs for re-election. It also takes the oomph out of the story, from a news cycle perspective. Reporters can chase it around if they want to, but since the election's over there's really no place to go with it.
This revelation, coming so soon after Adams was sworn in, has to be seen as bad news for gay people everywhere.
Oh, I don't know. Getting it out of the way right after he's sworn in means everyone might have forgotten about it by the time he runs for re-election. It also takes the oomph out of the story, from a news cycle perspective. Reporters can chase it around if they want to, but since the election's over there's really no place to go with it.
22
Nobody in Portland beyond the WillyWee, Scott Moore (swoon) and The Big Zero is paying attention, and Scott is usually pretty good about this sorta thing. The Trib isn't legitimate media, so ignore that one.
23
@9 -- RG, you're a rather stupid creature, aren't you. Did you even read the fucking article? No one is suggesting that Beau Breedlove did something wrong. Someone is suggesting that the mayor did something creepy that reenforces negative views of homosexuality.
I am a 43 year old heterosexual. I could legally have sex with an 18 year old woman. But it'd be pretty fucking creepy.
Jubilation T. Cornball. You are not a stupid creature. Thanks for an insightful post.
I am a 43 year old heterosexual. I could legally have sex with an 18 year old woman. But it'd be pretty fucking creepy.
Jubilation T. Cornball. You are not a stupid creature. Thanks for an insightful post.
24
Is 18 the age or consent, or not?
Does that consent include fucking older folks or not?
It is and it does and this is all bullshit. Don't apologize Mr. Mayor, and say that lying about a relationship is okay, everyone does it, when no one is married and both are above age of consent the govt. needs to back out of the bedroom.
That's what liberty is all about.
Does that consent include fucking older folks or not?
It is and it does and this is all bullshit. Don't apologize Mr. Mayor, and say that lying about a relationship is okay, everyone does it, when no one is married and both are above age of consent the govt. needs to back out of the bedroom.
That's what liberty is all about.
26
The Willamette Week article
http://wweek.com/editorial/3510/12093
suggests that former Portland Mercury reporter Amy Ruiz, who had been following the story for the paper, may have been hired by Mayor Adams in part to keep the story quiet. Please read the whole article.
http://wweek.com/editorial/3510/12093
suggests that former Portland Mercury reporter Amy Ruiz, who had been following the story for the paper, may have been hired by Mayor Adams in part to keep the story quiet. Please read the whole article.
27
My problem with it is that this came up during the campaign, not only did Sam deny having the affair but he accused those who were making the accusation of homophobia.
I like Sam but Sho would have been a good mayor too, and at this point I'm not really very happy that I elected someone who said "no that's not true" but should have said "none of your damn business".
I like Sam but Sho would have been a good mayor too, and at this point I'm not really very happy that I elected someone who said "no that's not true" but should have said "none of your damn business".
28
@26: Think about it. It's what the Weekly here would claim if, say, Dan Savage was elected to keep hush-hush if Nickels Lewinskeyed someone.
The battle between the WW and Mercury is epic, grand and beautifully bitter.
The battle between the WW and Mercury is epic, grand and beautifully bitter.
29
If you think this wouldn't raise eyebrows at least for a straight politician you're delusional. Gavin Newsom started this way. For such a charismatic guy there's no way he'd go national after the 19-year-old girlfriend. We can argue whether it was a surprise when he got even sleazier.
30
Hey #7:
"The gay-bashing proles will just add this to their cliche'-filled list-o-shit;
Gay==Pedophile. just like Arab-looking==Terrorist."
And pit bull = dangerous killer.
"The gay-bashing proles will just add this to their cliche'-filled list-o-shit;
Gay==Pedophile. just like Arab-looking==Terrorist."
And pit bull = dangerous killer.
31
@28: Exactly. The Willamette Week link should have been included in the original Slog post, above the freakin' Oregonian.
32
Acknowledge, move on. Never speak of it again.
DON'T make a big queeny thing out of it, and DON'T let the LGBT activists make a big queen thing out of it either.
Acknowledge, move on.
DON'T make a big queeny thing out of it, and DON'T let the LGBT activists make a big queen thing out of it either.
Acknowledge, move on.
33
-----------------------------------------------------
"@16, do you really feel that the mentorship role should also include all the complex emotional entanglements of a physical/romantic relationship?"
--------------------------------------------------------
19, Yes, definitely yes. I wish there had been an older gay man to help me with my sexuality when I was so unsure.
--------------------------------------------
"That's not using one's power as an older male adult in a mentorship way, in my opinion. It's just an old guy getting some chicken trim."
-------------------------------------------------
Um, 18 isn't chicken. It is the age of consent. We are not talking about a child. I would look back with fondness if there had been a man to help me with my homosexuality when I was that age.
"@16, do you really feel that the mentorship role should also include all the complex emotional entanglements of a physical/romantic relationship?"
--------------------------------------------------------
19, Yes, definitely yes. I wish there had been an older gay man to help me with my sexuality when I was so unsure.
--------------------------------------------
"That's not using one's power as an older male adult in a mentorship way, in my opinion. It's just an old guy getting some chicken trim."
-------------------------------------------------
Um, 18 isn't chicken. It is the age of consent. We are not talking about a child. I would look back with fondness if there had been a man to help me with my homosexuality when I was that age.
34
#23 - YOU ARE PRETTY FUCKING CREEPY
My mom and dad were twenty three years apart - deeply in love - over thirty years together
How shallow and silly you are about life
My mom and dad were twenty three years apart - deeply in love - over thirty years together
How shallow and silly you are about life
35
#30 - Thanks Rob - gay men need to uses some common sense, this one didn't
But I feel the same way, god, I wish some older guy swept me up at 18-20, my whole life would have changed for the BETTER.
Straight women need to stay out of this as well. Their mommie control thing clouds seeing the truth in queer sexual matters ...
But I feel the same way, god, I wish some older guy swept me up at 18-20, my whole life would have changed for the BETTER.
Straight women need to stay out of this as well. Their mommie control thing clouds seeing the truth in queer sexual matters ...
36
If one were to give up making generalizations about people (and dog breeds) based on anecdotal evidence, this kind of thing would stop being bad news for gay people everywhere.
37
I am going to stand up for Beau Breedlove, for one its his God given Birth Name given to him. Its not some gay thing...As for lying for Mr. Adams, Leave him alone. He is a good kid and mistakes happen and I know that Beau was under alot of pressure to keep his mouth shut. Shame on Mr. Adams for allowing this to go on so long for his gain. But dont be ripping on Beau again he is a good kid and we should be casting blame on Mr. Adams and questioning him not Beau and picking on his name. Please grow up
39
I don't like lying. Although, I understand why people lie, especially why I've lied at times. So, I'm not holding it against our mayor.
What I hope is, that Mr. Breedlove came away from the relationship feeling positive.
The rest is none of my business.
What I hope is, that Mr. Breedlove came away from the relationship feeling positive.
The rest is none of my business.
40
I was rip-shit when I read about this. I'm a 41 year old lesbian in California who was thrilled with Sam Adams' victory. He is a first and the "firsts" always carry with them the hopes and dreams of others in their community. That's the deal. That's how it always works and to ignore that is to politically stupid. I don't care that he had sex with an 18 year old. What I care deeply about is that a) it was a youth who sought a mentoring relations b) that he lied to the voters about it to protect himself c) that he asked this young man to lie too d) that he characterized other people's concerns about this relationship as "homophobic."
He has tainted his "first" status. Amidst a terrible Prop. 8 passage, Sam Adams' election mattered to many people far beyond the boundaries of Portland. His actions -- and more importantly his cover-up -- has played perfectly into the stereotypes that exist about gay men. And equally important is the message that it sends to GLBTQ youth who are trying to sort out what their lives can be. This message is that you can be dumped under the bus by that very GLBT "elder" (and yes, I'm talking to you 42 year old) who hasn't yet come to terms with his own adolescence.
And on that point: I hope Sam Adams gets some psychotherapy. I think a lot of straight people don't understand how adolescence is tough on everyone but particularly GLBTQ and questioning youth. Our attempts to understand and explore our normal, innate sexuality is considered shameful/hateful/perverted, etc. by much of the larger society. It's not easy to make it through an adolescence with a healthy, mature sense of our own sexuality when ever where we turn we are told it's not. Given Mr. Adam's choices, his lying to protect himself, etc., I think he could probably find some service in some serious psychotherapy so he doesn't make the choices he made. His orientation isn't shameful but his cover-up was.
I have five year old sons and they may be straight or gay, I haven't a clue. But I pray to God that they never get thrown under the bus by any older lover the way Mr. Breedlove was.
More...
He has tainted his "first" status. Amidst a terrible Prop. 8 passage, Sam Adams' election mattered to many people far beyond the boundaries of Portland. His actions -- and more importantly his cover-up -- has played perfectly into the stereotypes that exist about gay men. And equally important is the message that it sends to GLBTQ youth who are trying to sort out what their lives can be. This message is that you can be dumped under the bus by that very GLBT "elder" (and yes, I'm talking to you 42 year old) who hasn't yet come to terms with his own adolescence.
And on that point: I hope Sam Adams gets some psychotherapy. I think a lot of straight people don't understand how adolescence is tough on everyone but particularly GLBTQ and questioning youth. Our attempts to understand and explore our normal, innate sexuality is considered shameful/hateful/perverted, etc. by much of the larger society. It's not easy to make it through an adolescence with a healthy, mature sense of our own sexuality when ever where we turn we are told it's not. Given Mr. Adam's choices, his lying to protect himself, etc., I think he could probably find some service in some serious psychotherapy so he doesn't make the choices he made. His orientation isn't shameful but his cover-up was.
I have five year old sons and they may be straight or gay, I haven't a clue. But I pray to God that they never get thrown under the bus by any older lover the way Mr. Breedlove was.
41
Lying to the public is not ok if you're the mayor. Or if you're running for mayor and might be the mayor. I'm one of the few Clinton supporters I know who was just fine with his impeachment because he looked us all in the eye and LIED. It's not ok to lie to everyone if you're chief citizen of the country, or the city. I'm not saying it's ok for everyone else; I'm saying that the job description of chief citizen comes with an understanding that lying is a no-no. One day that may leave us with no qualified candidates to speak of (especially in the email era) and we may have to soften that clause. But I doubt it. (I already know I could never run for president.)
The guy who said politicians oughtta respond, "none of your @#$!ing business" is right on, provided nothing illegal occured.
But would this mayor have been elected if the truth had been told? 18 legally isn't 17, but that doesn't mean a 40-something with a teenager is culturally acceptable (whether some think it should be or not).
The guy who said politicians oughtta respond, "none of your @#$!ing business" is right on, provided nothing illegal occured.
But would this mayor have been elected if the truth had been told? 18 legally isn't 17, but that doesn't mean a 40-something with a teenager is culturally acceptable (whether some think it should be or not).
42
Lying to the public is not ok if you're the mayor. Or if you're running for mayor and might be the mayor. I'm one of the few Clinton supporters I know who was just fine with his impeachment because he looked us all in the eye and LIED. It's not ok to lie to everyone if you're chief citizen of the country, or the city. I'm not saying it's ok for everyone else; I'm saying that the job description of chief citizen comes with an understanding that lying is a no-no. One day that may leave us with no qualified candidates to speak of (especially in the email era) and we may have to soften that clause. But I doubt it. (I already know I could never run for president.)
The guy who said politicians oughtta respond, "none of your @#$!ing business" is right on, provided nothing illegal occured.
But would this mayor have been elected if the truth had been told? 18 may be legally different from 17, but that doesn't mean a 40-something with a teenager is culturally acceptable to the majority.
The guy who said politicians oughtta respond, "none of your @#$!ing business" is right on, provided nothing illegal occured.
But would this mayor have been elected if the truth had been told? 18 may be legally different from 17, but that doesn't mean a 40-something with a teenager is culturally acceptable to the majority.
43
I'll add that on this historic day my heart still goes out to Mr. Adams. On a night that he, the wildly popular & hip new mayor, should've been partying down with the citizens of Portland in a tidal wave of exuberance, he's having what's likely the darkest personal day of his life, and with little consolation available. Sorry, Sam.
45
stop being so self-conscious. the gay community needs to think of this as bad news for sam adams, not bad news for gay politicians. it's the right wing that wants to lump all gay people together - it's a specious argument that's easy to refute, unless you dignify it by taking it seriously. by the same token, i hope no one rallies around adams. this is no different than any other political scandal - cut him no slack. he should resign. he lied to the public, and the act, while not illegal, speaks to a lack of judgment. mentoring a kid who's under 18 and then waiting to nail him until he's legal? creepy. how long until it comes out that their relationship started before breedlove was 18? gay or not, he doesn't sound like the kind of person i'd want running my city.
46
I'm amazed at how self righteous some people are. When two adults want to hook up, it's nobody else's business. I don't care about their ages, their politics or their positions. And to the people who want to carp and wag their fingers-get a fucking clue. You are no better than all those blue nose bigots who are always condemning you!
47
The economy is more out of order, than a person with bi-polar. Its so preposterous that the economy in the U.S. is at one of its worst moments bringing us back to 1929. Look at Larry Craig, asking an undercover police officer for a blow-job at MSP international airport in Minneapolis.
I dont know if its arrogance equating to negligence, but Id always have my guard up be humble and level-headed, and show the utmost professionalism. Regardless of the position, its important to stay humble. These political figures like Craig and Adams should be dethroned and taken out of office. They are a disgrace, no one is perfect, we all make mistakes, but you have to be conscientious and aware of your surroundings. There should be a price ( legal repercussions) and every rational individual is responsible for their actions in my book. Look at Kobe Bryant, he was fortunate of being rich, but he felt that hes famous he wont get caught with his hand in the cookie jar. When your famous, your more of a target, there are more envious people that have had personal hardships, that want to see other people suffer to build up their self-esteem and take advantage of people in a high authoritate positon.. I applaud Kobe for his honesty of committing adultery, most people wont admit to that.
I guess if George W. Bush can be president, and if Paul Allen can hire rapists and wife-beaters and thugs with no college education and make millions, sarcastically speaking then why not the mayor of Portland, we all want equality. What do I know Im just a college graduate who paid my dues and went through a lot of difficult times.
I dont know if its arrogance equating to negligence, but Id always have my guard up be humble and level-headed, and show the utmost professionalism. Regardless of the position, its important to stay humble. These political figures like Craig and Adams should be dethroned and taken out of office. They are a disgrace, no one is perfect, we all make mistakes, but you have to be conscientious and aware of your surroundings. There should be a price ( legal repercussions) and every rational individual is responsible for their actions in my book. Look at Kobe Bryant, he was fortunate of being rich, but he felt that hes famous he wont get caught with his hand in the cookie jar. When your famous, your more of a target, there are more envious people that have had personal hardships, that want to see other people suffer to build up their self-esteem and take advantage of people in a high authoritate positon.. I applaud Kobe for his honesty of committing adultery, most people wont admit to that.
I guess if George W. Bush can be president, and if Paul Allen can hire rapists and wife-beaters and thugs with no college education and make millions, sarcastically speaking then why not the mayor of Portland, we all want equality. What do I know Im just a college graduate who paid my dues and went through a lot of difficult times.
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