Subscribe to Breaking News
Loading ...Gay mayor admits to affair
01.21.2009 12:51pm EST
(Portland, Oregon) The mayor of Portland apologized Tuesday for lying about a sexual relationship with a male teenager he was mentoring three years ago, but asked the city to consider it an anomaly in two decades of public service.
“I screwed up. I blew it. There’s no way to sugarcoat it,” Mayor Sam Adams said during a City Hall news conference scheduled after he cut short a trip to the presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C.Adams was elected easily last year, making Portland the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor. He was sworn in Jan. 1.
Rumors of the relationship had surfaced when the then-city commissioner was getting ready to run for mayor in 2007, but he and the teen both denied it at the time.
In a statement he released Monday confirming the relationship, Adams said he lied then because the rumors claimed the teen was underage. He said the relationship did not begin until after the teen turned 18 in June 2005. That is the legal age of consent in Oregon.
At the time, the teen was a legislative intern whom Adams mentored on being gay and in public service. He is now 21 and has not made any public comments acknowledging any relationship with Adams. He did not return a request for comment Tuesday from The Associated Press.
In his City Hall remarks, Adams said their relationship was inappropriate because of their age gap; he is 45.
And he admitted he asked the teen initially to deny the relationship. “I am deeply sorry that I asked him to lie for me,” he said.
Adams stressed the issue is about a public official lying, not sexual orientation, and he would work to regain the public’s trust.
“I will be subject to greater scrutiny because of this, and that is appropriate,” he said.
“My reputation has been impacted. Friendships have been impacted, and that’s appropriate as well.”
Adams said he would cooperate in any investigation. He said he has no plan to resign, but left open the possibility: “If it were no longer in the city’s best interests that I stay, yes, I would resign.”
Commissioner Randy Leonard, who defended Adams when the rumor surfaced in 2007, has now called for an investigation. Leonard’s chief of staff, Ty Kovatch, voiced concern about Adams’ decision to ask the teen to lie.
“It reveals a much more strategic and planned effort to mislead people,” Kovatch said.
Leonard said he believes Adams can continue as mayor – unless “further omissions and discrepancies” emerge.
@ Ted:
Male fascination? How about Human fascination. Or, I guess the term “Cougar” means a large cat in your vocabulary.
Tedd said–Grow up guys…relate to someone in your own age group.
I don’t think being attracted to someone who is in a different age bracket has anything to do with growing up. I think that is what the age of consent is all about. If both parties have passed the age of consent then if they want to engage in sex and they both CONSENT to the encounter then it is NO ONE ELSE’S business.
I find it interesting that the young man in question has refused to make ANY statement regarding the encounter. I think that if I were him and had not problem with the relationship, whatever it was, then I would continue to refuse to say anything since it “really” is not anyone’s business but the two individuals involved. Politics be damned! I think this falls under the “judge not least ye be judged” rule.
***YES this is sad and just makes me lose even more hope in this “community” this is no different from what the “straight” men do and just gives the religious right even more stones to throw at us… AT THIS TIME in history, everything that ppl. (esp. out politicians) in this community does affects ALL of us.
Start thinking with the HEAD on your shoulders and NOT the one below!
Also, for those stating the 18 yr old was “legal” so its ok, that is NOT the issue. The real issue was that he(the mayor) LIED!!!!! No different from any other politician(s)! pfff.
Once again an example of the male fascination with youth. The mayor should have had enough political savvy to remember some of the other politicos and their young stuff–Bill and Barney. Grow up guys…relate to someone in your own age group.
Well gee wiz, I guess I have to be accused of finding those ” old trolls” attractive myself
THERE WAS NO MENTOR POSITION. THEY (ADAMS & BREEDLOVE) MADE IT UP. AND BREEDLOVE WORKED FOR A LEGISLATOR IN THE CONGRESS- ADAMS WORKED AT THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF PORTLAND. 60 MILES APART AND NO “POWER STRUGGLE.” GIVE IT UP. YOU ALL ARE FISHING.
AND IT WASN’t AN “AFFAIR” 365. IT WAS A CONSENSUAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO ADULT MALES. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT BETTER OF A GAY NEWS OUTLET.
“This does the cause of getting openly gay officials elected to office throughout US no good at all.”? REALLY? Give me a break.
“Another case of nasty old trolls going after young people. Aside from the YUCK-factor,we in the gay community certainly should strive to be better than this.” What?
Quick, arrest Demi Moore, and Ashton Kutcher! Sorry folks, some younger guys like older guys. Hello? DILTF, Silverdaddies.com, etc, etc, etc. Get over it.
Politically, socially, morally though on the responsibilities of leadership, and setting up an example for the community, wrong, wrong, wrong. Puts gay politician’s in a bad light. BU then again, we are no more human than other folks..
It’s creepy. It’s wrong. He was his mentor. He was in a power position, and he should not have taken advantage of the situation. Even if the young man was of age and “wanted it”, he should have stayed in his mentorship role and decline. Now the parents of the next 18 year old will think twice about letting their son intern for a 45 year old gay man. And that’s a shame. That hurts us all.
Beth Holden-Soto,
Well there is a 15-year age difference between Ellen Degeneres (50) and Portia De Rossi (35. What a gorgeous and married
couple. It’s not the age difference it’s the fact that this marriage is between 2 adults of legal age and with the youngest not a teenager still in the growth process.
I am 55 but wouldn’t mind a guy who was 25
if he self-sufficient in income, loyal, kind, and physically fit although I am much more likely to have a much easier time attracting a 50 year old and would happy with a man of that age.
My beautiful wife is 20 years older than me, so this story smacks less of scandal and more of slander.
Do we REALLY CARE that much whether or not he dated someone younger than him? I don’t.
You should see the local web sites for news and business in Portland,my beloved city. Some of the ‘public’ in these ‘unscientific’ polls are really on a tear. I have dealt with the public for 30 years+, so naturally I have been lied to on an hourly basis. If 100% truthful people exist – they have enough sense to avoid the political arena. Piss and moan as some of the good people of Portland will, they must be new to the planet. My world is one of imperfect people doing the best they can. If you have had sex with more than one person there is a high likelyhood you have lied about sex. Let’s just try to fix our problems in our cities, states and country and leave the moral masterbation to those in some circle in that obscure corner of reality they seem to be so fond of.
Well at least the male was a legal adult.
Sounds to me like the male consented to the relationship, and still doesn’t have any complaints. So what’s the big deal?
The sad thing about politics is because of pure self-interest, (not the concern for the community at large) his opposition has found a small snag that may not meet the silk glove inspection.
This is pure exploitation. i.e. the Monica Lawinski syndrome, only much less.
If the guy were underage, or raped that would be different.
At least he is not a 35-year-old female school teacher digging in the pants of a hot little 14 year male, making him feel like a stud because he can get an older women.
I think all the LGBT folks in Portland should rally around this mayor.
Should he have lied about it? Maybe no, but on the other hand, maybe asking the question in the first place was more out of order. If the guy was over 18 it was non of any ones business.
Good luck Mr. Mayor, the opposition is DOA in Washington, so they are going to spread their cancer wherever they can starting with mayors and Governors.
Another case of nasty old trolls going after young people. Aside from the YUCK-factor,we in the gay community certainly should strive to be better than this.
Let’s leave this form of nastiness to the heterosexual males having their midlife crises chasing young women in the Porsches.
It’s sad, but this is not the way we’re going to win the battle for the hearts and minds (and more rights).
OK! So no more trophy wives for heterosexuals either!!! No one of any sexual orientation can even think of screwing someone not in their own age group! I was 13 when I became aware of both my sexuality and my orientation- though I was 8 when I found out that from a social standpoint- I was already a faggot. And no- I didn’t wait till I was 18 to have sex. And yes- I had sex with folks who were older than me. Which is exactly what I wanted. Teenagers are sexually active. Any other suggestion is just bull. Oh- but this is about politics- RIGHT!!! Hypocracy- all of it.
Sad, very sad. This does the cause of getting openly gay officials elected to office throughout US no good at all.
Gay candidates have to work harder to convince voters to vote for them and this doesn’t make it any easier.
Let this be a lesson to gay and straight officials alike to think twice before they mess with minors or with those who are legally able to leave home (18) but not yet at least 20 years of age or in other words not yet through with their teen years. Let’s think about it.An elected official with a young man or woman who is still a teenager.What an image and reputation killer.