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NB: The following is an opinion piece from Just Out contributing writer Floyd Sklaver, and does not reflect the opinion of the editorial board of Just Out newsmagazine.
UPDATED: NOTE FROM PUBLISHER:
Allow me to jump in please. As noted Floyd is a columnist for Just Out and not a part of the news or management staff. His opinion is posted here because he is allowed to voice that opinion, just as you all are allowed to do the same in the comments. Dialogue and conversation on this painful topic will be helpful to many as they strive to reach clarity of thought and their own personal opinion. While reaching yours, do not deny anyone else theirs.
Marty Davis
Publisher
Just Out
On a day when President Obama called for a new era of responsibility, Mayor Sam Adams took responsibility for his past actions and issued an apology to Portland, to the media, to Beau Breedlove (pictured) and to the gay community in a press conference at City Hall this afternoon. He said he was “ashamed, humbled and humiliated” by what he called his “inappropriate” behavior but that he has no plans to resign.
The details of Sam’s opening remarks and answers can be found elsewhere on the internet so I want to use this space to reflect on what has happened:
A government employee with over two decades of faithful service made a mistake of judgment at a time when his long-term relationship (11 years) had broken up. He lied about that experience to protect his political hide because he was afraid. When confronted with new evidence about the allegations, he decided to come clean, confess and ask forgiveness.
Perhaps I’m naive, but I take Sam at his word. I believe him when he says there were no sexual relations until Beau was 18; I believe him when he says there are no other skeletons in his closet; and I believe him when he says he will do everything he can to regain our trust.
That’s what it all comes down to–can we still (or ever) trust Sam Adams again? Or do we hold our elected officials to much higher standards than we do our friends, our family or ourselves. Because, let’s face it: who among us has not made mistakes and then tried to cover them up?
Assuming no new evidence surfaces (I’m sure other journalists are already digging for it–and Perez Hilton doesn’t qualify as a journalist), I’m standing with Sam. Marc and I will be there at the Mayor’s Winter Gala and I hope you will too.
15 responses so far ↓
1 Just J // Jan 20, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Amen Floyd.
2 jae // Jan 20, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I think Sam should resign, let time pass, and possible the gay community may be better represented in the future and when the damage he has done may have passed. In his address he represented himself as a leader of the gay community. He has lost all credibility.
3 Comeon // Jan 20, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Sam Adams was not running to be my family or friend. He was interviewing for an important job. Should we not fire an employee for lying on his or her resume? Give me a break.
4 Bear Boy // Jan 20, 2009 at 4:20 pm
You gotta be kidding Floyd.
I think that flying plate (from the theater play) caused you some brain damage. Adams was wrong and he lied. And it involved a teenager. So much wrong here. Stop making excuses foir your ‘cocktail crowd buddy’.
5 Feeling burned // Jan 20, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Now that’s a pretty big, bold statement: a green light for Sam headline? Is this an official statement from Just Out that you’re giving the green light to Sam and all is fine and we should just keep going like nothing happened?
I’m ashamed that our mayor misused the role as mentor for a young person and lied to us. You’ve got to be kidding if you think it’s just that easy as to flip a light, say it’s green, move along.
Is this what our gay paper is telling us?
6 not so much // Jan 20, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I think all you guys are full of S**T!! Just Out, Q Center and Basic Rights Oregon are only giving Sam the green light and supporting him because they worked so hard to get him in office.
The truth of the matter is Sam Adams is a public official that lied. HE LIED TO US PEOPLE!!! If he were not gay and white and male. You guys would not be coming to his rescue.
This town is so messed up with power hungry assholes that are using this situation to self promote and sweep stuff like this under the rug. While so called promoting accountability!!
This is a joke and a perfect example of how far we still have to go and how hard you are making it for others just to get a fair shake.
The writing is on the wall folks!!
7 As a mother // Jan 20, 2009 at 4:41 pm
As a mother of a teenager I would hope to trust a 42 year old public figure who was “mentoring” my child–not be concerned that said “mentor” was going to sleep with my child.
I’m greatly saddened and disappointed.
8 Floyd Sklaver // Jan 20, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Thanks to the editorial staff for clarifying that this was MY opinion and NOT the position of the newspaper. Only the publisher gets that privilege.
That being said, I stand by my position and promise to reconsider it if/when new evidence appears.
9 marty davis // Jan 20, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Allow me to jump in please. As noted Floyd is a columnist for Just Out and not a part of the news or management staff. His opinion is posted here because he is allowed to voice that opinion, just as you all are allowed to do the same in the comments. Dialogue and conversatin on this painful topic will be helpful to any as they strive to reach clarity of thought and their own personal opinion. While reaching yours, do not deny anyone else theirs.
Marty Davis
Publisher
Just Out
10 Feeling burned // Jan 20, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Thanks for the clarification: it was very confusing to be reading such a bold statement of support so early in this issue coming to light.
11 Jackie // Jan 20, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Simple question and you know the answer. If a 40 somthing mayor slept with a teenager and lied about, would there be a big fuss. Dang right.
12 not so much // Jan 20, 2009 at 5:29 pm
The tone has been set and I for one am curious to see how Just Out and the other big hitters will move forward with this whole fiasco. Just remember that this is far from over and is a drama that will live on for a good while. Plan thoughtfully people.
13 Ken Wayne // Jan 20, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Showing a mature picture of Beau makes it look like he knew what he was doing without influence. Sam Adams showed no respect to a vulnerable boy, he showed no respect to the office he held, he showed a complete disregard to the office of Mayor. For me at least he showed a total disrespect to President Obama, airing his headlines when hope and promise were being experienced. Bad news has no good timing, understood. But to see a split screen of the Obama motorcade while listening to a plea, an insult, an outrage was nothing but posturing. Again, no respect for a bigger picture. It’s all about Sam while robing himself in ‘humility’. Too late dude the damage is done. Say goodbye Sam. Glad we found out early.
14 pdxdavidb // Jan 21, 2009 at 9:10 am
Floyd and Marc, as opera buffs you should know that it’s time for the fat lady to sing and end this tragic mess. No doubt Sam needs his friends for support right now, and I hope you can be there for him it that regard. However, you should also realize that this issue has crippled his effectiveness as our mayor. I can’t buy the excuse that he was hurting after a breakup and was scared to come clean because it would ruin his political ambitions. It would have been far better for him to be honest in the first place…yes maybe a bit embarrassing, but not as shameful as it is now after all the lies. Floyd, your argument sounds like a twinkie defense to me…
15 pdxmom // Jan 21, 2009 at 11:59 am
As the mother of a preteen, I hope Sam stays. I’ve had a pretty frank conversation with my son already about what is going on. As a parent, I believe it’s my responsibility to teach my child about risks and to teach him to extricate himself from situations where he’s not comfortable. As someone who was, as a queer teen, involved in a relationship with an older person for awhile, I know that chronology is a rough measure at best of maturity.
I want my son to see the hazards of placing someone on a pedestal, of not acknowledging the potential for everyone to be human. I want him to see that apologies matter, and that it’s always best to be honest. Yes – Sam should’ve been so at the outset. He f’d up. He has apologized, and I accept that apology as given. I want my son to understand that accepting the apology and keeping Sam in office doesn’t mean he “got away with” something, but does mean that we acknowledge that people can make grievous errors but redeem themselves as well. I want my son to know that there is hope for that redemption, and see a very prominent example of someone who is held accountable, yet still given a chance to recover. I want him to believe that we’re not so harsh that we deny that possibility for someone who is truly penitent.
It’s not “a green light” – what a misleading headline. It is a “yellow light” – allowing us to move forward, and giving Sam the opportunity to be the Mayor – and indeed, the leader that he wants us to believe he can be. Leadership is not a matter of how one presents a perfect image. Leadership is a matter of how one moves beyond catastrophe – even (especially?) self-inflicted – to demonstrate the content of one’s character.
I want Sam to have that chance. He may blow it – or not. But let’s give him the opportunity.
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