Comments on: Sex scandal divides Portland gay community

By: Eugene Woodworth

Eugene Woodworth — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 07:13:01 +0000

Most men as well as women will lie about anything of a sexual nature when confronted in public or by strangers.
Let Mayor Sam have his time as mayor.
After all he was elected because no one else is a qualified as he having spent most of his life in public service and recently eight years with the city council. He a great guy and is loved by
an overwhelming majority of streights as well as gays. “HANG IN THERE, SAM.”

By: Isaac

Isaac — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 11:34:53 +0000

“I’m an american living abroad with my 21 year old boyfriend, nearly 3 years now (yes he was 18 when we first did it.) But I am 60. I’m sure some of you will surely find this relationship equally repulsive and my answer to you is my relationship is none of your business, just as Sam Adams relationship is none of your business.”

Couldn’t agree more. The difference is, however, you haven’t put yourself in the public eye and then lied about your relationship. He could have told people his sex life was none of their business. Instead he chose to lie. For that he should resign.

By: Doug Clifford

Doug Clifford — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 01:16:39 +0000

Reader comments to this story are more revealing about the gay community than the story itself. The blue-nosed queers among us demonstrate ageism is alive and well, one even pronounces the sex was “slightly sick” because of the age difference.

Thanks God I’ve never had an interest in politics. I’m an american living abroad with my 21 year old boyfriend, nearly 3 years now (yes he was 18 when we first did it.) But I am 60. I’m sure some of you will surely find this relationship equally repulsive and my answer to you is my relationship is none of your business, just as Sam Adams relationship is none of your business.

By: nurmihusa

nurmihusa — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:17:42 +0000

Of course Sam should resign. After all, ANY Republican who was caught in a mistatement of fact would resign immediately. Oh. Wait. Republicans don’t resign for that sort of thing. Not even if hundreds of thousands of people are killed, many hundreds of thousands more maimed and scarred for life and trillions of dollars wasted and untold trillions more of property destroyed.

Never mind.

By: Isaac

Isaac — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 09:03:24 +0000

I don’t give a flying [heck] who he had sex with. Provided the sex was consensual and legal, I don’t think it’s anyone’s business other than the two (or more) people involved. The only issue I can see is the fact that he lied, and encouraged at least one other person, the boy, to lie for him.

He didn’t have to lie. He didn’t have to respond to the story at all. If he had said that his sexual life is private and he doesn’t discuss it, full stop, I think most people would have respected that. By lying, however, he demonstrates one of the key characteristics we need to eradicate in our politicians, gay or straight – dishonesty.

The fact that he was lying to deny a story that should not even have been news in the first place is irrelevant. He lied. Now he should resign.

By: Jerry from Tucson

Jerry from Tucson — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 05:10:25 +0000

I feel there is need to clarify my earlier posting. I for one do NOT believe the mayor when he said he “waited” until the intern was 18. That is what politicians do to cover up and legalities. Yet no one believes “straight” politicians when they stray from heterosexuality. Sorry everyone, but we can’t have it both ways. One standard for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation. Equality is NOT a one-way street! Over the years, I have had many security clearances and I didn’t have to lie to get them. Not to mention my parents and siblings, who have been very supportive of me and life partner. (Especially my parents, who have “adopted” him into our family.) Regardless, I could not have lived trying to lead “two lives”. So, good luck Portland in trying to justify that this is all just an anti-gay conspiracy. I for one will continue to demand more from our politicians.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:13:03 +0000

Mayor Adams has not been proven guilty, and more important, it doesn’t seem possible that he could be. Breedlove was an adult. He was also a legislative intern, but the mayor was not a legislator. Finally, the mayor lied about their relationship, but not in court, not in connection with a legal contract, and not about a work-related matter. Therefore, both the relationship and the subsequent lie were legal. As other posters have suggested, Mayor Adams probably lied because he anticipated that homophobia and ageism would lead to a public overreaction.

Nonetheless, Adams’ actions showed a lack of control. He knew he was in the public eye and that a scandal was bound to erupt. He must have realized that people would overreact. The right wing will use anything they can to portray gay people as corrupt and sinful, and Adams has given them grist for their smear mills.

To Adams’ credit, he has raised the possibility of resigning, and I think it would be best for the LGBT community if he did. As a practical matter, politicians do not enjoy the same freedom of action as you or I. Their behavior has greater impact, and Adams’ behavior could compromise LGBT rights in Oregon and elsewhere.

By: john wilfred sharp

john wilfred sharp — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:24:29 +0000

lying is never good and caches you up one day. sex with an 18 year old is within the law and need no lies .
but society is so puritan that it also forces many gays to keep the lies going .
i have not lied i am gay and open 100%

By: vanndean

vanndean — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 01:33:57 +0000

mark snyder Said: January 23rd, 2009 at 5:57 pm
The age of consent is 16. He’s fine. Stop being so sex phobic people.

Oregon Law
163.445 Sexual misconduct. (1) A person commits the crime of sexual misconduct if the person engages in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse with an unmarried person under 18 years of age.

There is another Law which precedes this law which states that a person is incapable of giving their consent to sexual activity if they have not reached the age of 18. The age of consent may be 16 in the state or country in which you reside, but it appears that is not true in the State of Oregon.

I will say that if both parties are within legal limits of the law, and they wish to bump peepees, then it is not anyone else’s business and you are correct that some people need to get over their “sex phobia” and “ageism”. If the kid is into “silver daddies” and since no one has heard anything derogatory from him about the relationship, that appears to be the case and so then it should be their business. Some people like fresh steak, served rare, and some like aged beef served well done. There is no accounting for taste. One mans meat is another man’s poison. No one is forcing any one to eat at a particular restaurant or dine on anything that they don’t want to eat. I will simply say that I am much older than either of these gentlemen, and if a young man of legal age offers, I am probably going to very graciously and appreciatively accept the offer of friendship with benefits. Stop stirring this “tempest in a teapot” and get on with something which has some real meaning. Don’t destroy the good works and futures of these people because they chose to show affection for one another. We need to stop throwing out the “baby with the bath water” and stop making “sex” such a political hatchet for destroying the lives of individuals.

By: Richard Walsh

Richard Walsh — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:12:11 +0000

The man had a relationship with another consenting adult and mistakenly denied it. He has since admitted that he made a mistake and apologized It is time to move on There are bigger issues of concern. Iraq, Healthcare, The Economy