He was apparently "mentoring" the kid.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/loca...andmayor21.html

According to the article, the relationship only began after the kid (whose last name is "Breedlove" - you gotta love it!) was 18. In that case, why is it even news? They're two consenting adults, with less of an age gap (25 years now) than Fred Thompson and his trophy wife!

Adams should resign. He lied. He and his political advisor coached the 18 year old intern to lie. It was an inappropriate relationship because Adams was in a position of authority over the the intern. Though Adams claims that a sexual relationship did not occur until the intern turned 18, Adams had regular contact with him from the time he was 17. His story stinks. He is a 45 year old man who began a relationship with a teenager.

I am the same age as Adams. I teach students over the age of 18. If one came to me to ask for advice, even if I did not have the student in class, and I began a sexual relationship with that student, it would be inappropriate and sexual harassment, because I am in a position of authority over the student and the relationship would be deemed coercive in nature. I would be fired.

Adams should resign!
BlueOregon

Since when did an 18 year old become a kid or boy?


While Mr Adams should have shown better discipline and judgment, it's perfectly within the law to have a relationship and sex with an 18 year old MAN.


As far as I am concerned, if you can die for your country in Iraq at age 18, then sex with older men or women should be a non issue.

We need to get over these ridiculous attitudes. At age 25 I began a relationship with a man who was 52. We were together for 14 years, until he died at 66, and I was there nursing him and loving him until the end. Two years ago, to my utter amazement, I began dating a then 22-year old ( I was 45 at the time), and we've now been living together for the better part of a year. He's adorable and loving and keeps me young (ok, ok, youngish). My point is these silly, judgemental ideas we cling to don't help anybody, they only prevent people from sharing the human companionship we all need. As long as everyone is an adult and of sound mind, then it's all good.

And more power to you Munson Man. Disparity in age between adults is not a bar to romance or any other relationship. That is not the issue here.

Adams began a relationship with an individual who was underage. Moreover, he did not enter into this relationship on an equal footing. Adams was in a position of authority over him. The 17 year old as a legislative intern approached Adams in his capacity as a public official to seek advice. A relationship ensued that went beyond a merely professional one. Though that relationship may not have developed into a sexual one until the intern became of legal age, Adams remained in a controlling position over the young man. It is not as if Adams met a legal adult in a social setting and thus began a relationship, despite disparity of age, as peers.

More importantly, as an elected official, when directly questioned, Adams denied the nature of the relationship and used his and others' influence to persuade the then 18 year old man to lie about their relationship. That is the arbitrary abuse of power. It is wrong, if not criminal. Adams should resign.

The mayor is pretty hot himself. I would have begged for a "mentor" like that when I was 18 yrs old. Still, the mayor needed to wait. I know it's hard, but you just gotta. It's the law.

Wow. Who needs Rick Warren? We have met the enemy and it is us.

From Wonkette (with photographic evidence) via Dan Savage:

Openly Gay Mayor Once Had Sex With Adult Male!

Well, I agree with BBC. To ask what the big deal is because they are both adults is not the issue. Even though the media is making a big deal out the age difference and the younger adult being a teenager - that is not the real issue. And even the fact that he had an affair with a staffer is not the real issue (in my opinion.) He could ride out the storm on that one. It's just the lying and manipulation... the ethics part of it from a public official. Should he resign? Well, probably but he needs to do something more than just apologize.
Maybe the state attorney general's investigation will come up with a solution. What is the age of consent for "hetrosexials" in Oregon? And how old was the teen staffer when the relationship turned to sexual intimacy? Was he really 18? And that "I blew it" caption in the article further sensationalizes the whole situation... If the investigation reveals nothing more and the people of Portland still want him as mayor, then he could possibly continue with his office.

What do they do to congressmen when the federal ethics commission sanctions them?

As a teacher who went through training in "acceptable/unacceptable" professional behavior(s), one that is a BIG no-no is crossing the sexual line between a teacher & student. It is legally deemed sexual harassment with an adult student & a crime if it is a minor. That being said, if the student is no longer enrolled in a teacher's class--& is an adult--then I don't see a problem. It's not so much a moral issue as it is a societal/legal one...

For ie, when I was attending SC one of my professors asked me out AFTER the semester was over. We went out on a few dates. Btw, during the semester I had ABSOLUTELY no inkling that he had the hots for me. ...Needless to say I was stunned when he did ask me out.

This might draw some criticism- but here goes.

It's my opinion there is a huge difference between a 40ish year old heterosexual man having a relationship with a 18 year old girl than there is a 30-50 y/o gay older male having a relationship with a 17/18 year old.

The dynamics of the relationship are most likely a lot different.


An older heterosexual male is most likely just driven by sex. He could care less about other aspects of the relationship.


An older gay male without question is driven by sex, but would invest a lot in teaching, caring, and loving a younger gay male. It seems like this is the case with the Mayor of Portland.


You see it all the time in the gay community. Often times you will see a younger gay male become a better person as the result of a relationship with an older gay male. It's pretty common.


Also, it's so easy for heterosexuals to meet each other in almost any setting, it's easy to see why society looks down at older men who date 18 year old females. They have an abundance of opportunities to meet so many other women who are more mature. The same goes for an 18 year old female to meet males who are on their maturity level.

With gays it's different, IMO- especially when you're that young. You often feel alone and in most cases are a lot more mature than heterosexuals their own age.



It's apples to oranges, IMO.


And for the record, I am in my lower 30's and usually date guys my own age- so I believe I am completely objective on this matter.

Might not the difference be that many heterosexual men in their 40's are, at that point, fathers of 18 year olds? Wouldn't it be equally wince-inducing for a middle-aged gay man who has a young adult child to bed someone of his child's age?

I don't know if I agree with this argument. The dynamics of a father & son relationship is a lot different than a father & daughter relationship.


Fathers usually aren't hands on with their teenage daughters in teaching them the ways of the world as fathers are with their sons. Typically fathers just take care of them ( providing money) as the mother usually more hands on. This would explain why it's more common to see older lesbians who are attracted to younger lesbians than say older women who are strictly attracted to younger men.

There is a different type of bonding with same sex.


It's safe to assume Older Heterosexual men attracted to younger women are driven by sex. Often they probably don't want to be bothered by any of the details of that young woman's life.

You can't make that assumption about older gay males in their 30's and 40's. Sure they're probably sexually driven, but also they have a lot more motives as far as wanting to be a mentor and seeking a relationship with the younger guy. The same with older lesbians and younger lesbians.

I've seen a lot of exceptional things come out of younger gay guys who've been in relationships with older guys. I've seen younger guys who were lost drop out of school, make terrible decisions, and seemed like they going down the wrong path up until meeting an older gay male. This was at times when many of their straight friends and family turned their backs on them for being gay.

I just think it's different in the gay world. We have a nurturing nature.

I am sure many of us on this board have looked out for younger guys. I have and I've always dated guys similar in age. They were friends. However, I've had many friends who were in highly successful relationships where there was a good age difference. The younger guys always seemed to grow leaps and bounds as a result of these relationships. Sure they might not last for decades, but they provided mutual companionship. A lot of good came out of them.


This isn't something that gets a lot of play time in the heterosexual world.

Soooo, has anyone spotted them together on YouTube? Beau is indeed beau...trey beau!

As with gay marriage, we are trying to impose heterosexual values onto homosexual relationships. I fully support gay marriage but not imposing traditional values onto those marriages - or by extension onto the relationships that precede, or substitute for them.

Older gay men starting an asexual relationship with underage youth should not be illegal unless the person is in a position in which the youth can be considered to gain or lose economically or otherwise from the relationship. That would invite coersion and corruption especially in politics.

However the relationship should not be condemned if it is asexual until the youth becomes "of age". Even underage young gay people should have the right to make decisions about who they associate with, especially if the parents are aware of his or her sexual orientation.

As far as I am concerned this is only controversial because of the political or career relationship between the two. To endorse that would invite the same sort of corruption that permeates our politics already, where career opportunities and financial reward are determined, not by merit, but by who you know or are willing to sleep with.

Having said that I hope that Mr. Breedlove and Mr. Adams can find an ethical and legitimate way to maintain their relationship. They are both rather cute

What is truly amazing about this story is that politicians fail to learn that it is the lying and covering up that will bring them down. As the editorial linked points out, Adams could have survived this had he told the truth about the relationship when the issue was first raised. Instead he lied, encouraged others to lie, and attempted to smear his political opponent who raised the issue. He committed political suicide.

Do politicians have to bear their souls and all aspects of their privacy to the public? Of course, not. But they should be honest.
Adams and Breedlove

Here is my take on the matter.

It's ok for two people to have a sexual relationship regardless of their age differences as long as:

1) both are of legal age.

2) neither of them are in a position of authority over the other in the workplace.

If the mayor is not guilty of violating 1 or 2 then his guilt would stem from the action of lying about the relationship not the relationship itself.

Anyone who has had diversity training should been taught that violating point 2 raises a red flag no matter where you work.

I totally agree. I disagree, however, that younger gay people (adolescents) are always more mature than their straight peers. Some, because of the various issues they've faced (familial rejection, little emotional support, etc.) are less mature, at least that's been my experience. If two mature consenting adults of whatever age (18 to 108, etc.) want to have a relationship, more power to them.

Ultimately, the mayor should have told the truth. He probably still would have been elected, but if not, he'd know that a choice he made, to start a relationship with this young man, was not acceptable to the voters. Lying to them outright and in such a blatant way really calls into question everything else he says.

I guess there are different perspectives of maturity. Often times, younger gay men and women are rejected and face so many challenges they have no choice but to grow and evolve faster. Also, there could be an argument made they grow up to fast and start dabbling into things way over their heads and get into trouble. That's common as well.

I say so what? Portland is one of the gay mecca cities in the U.S. It's not a big deal to have same sex relationships, as long as the people are adults...as these both are. there particularly.

I must say I am not a fan of that 18 year wall that decides whether someone goes to jail, or is totally legal. Teenagers have passionate feelings. Let them be expressed! I'm tired of the law controlling who can love whom.

What has struck me about this is the similiarities between this Mayor, and the former Mayor of Spokane, Jim West, who has passed away and the sopa opera that happened when it was found out that he liked young men, and Interns in particular. Its to bad the Portland Mayor was not honest and upfront about this from the beginning, because by my standards, if you have lied once, chances are good you lied or will lie again. Will be watching to see how this plays out down in Portland....

Do you have children--teenagers--or work with them regularly? Have you? I ask, because I think if you did, you might not be so cavalier. There's a reason that our law has erected a "wall" when it comes to 13-17 year olds. While all adolescents obviously have passionate feelings, you speak as if these exist in a void. If two 13 year olds want to date, that's one thing. That's up to their parents to address, but it's two passionate adolescents, not a teenager and an adult. But I have a serious issue with a 45-year-old man dating and sleeping with a 14-year-old boy who has "passionate feelings." As mature as some young people can be, they are still developing emotionally and physically, and the risk many face of being taken advantage of is tremendous. I'm not saying that's what always happens, but the risk is considerable. So the 18-year wall is there for a reason. Perhaps you can conduct some legitimate studies to show that it doesn't need to be there. When you or someone else has done so, please let us know, and then contact your lawmakers to change the law.

So many generalities, so little time .... I don't buy 'em.

I say "so what?" to the relationship but not to the coverup. We don't know the details of what went on between Sam and Beau and I'm not going to indulge in pop psychological analysis about its appropriateness. But you can't recite bald-faced lies ad nauseam over the course of a political campaign, recant them after getting elected, and just expect everything to blow over.

That's fine. You're allowed to disagree.


"I say "so what?" to the relationship but not to the coverup"

Completely agree. The cover up and lies are the storyline here- not the actual relationship.

Interesting development for the mayor...
AG Probe Clears Portland Mayor

I still question his lack of judgment!


More here:
Probe Highlights