Continental promo
||  News  ||
 
January 06, 2009

Portland Gay Mayor Sam Adams Sworn In

Portland Gay Mayor Sam Adams Sworn In

Though he was elected to replace outgoing mayor Tom Potter back in May, Portland, Ore.’s gay mayor Sam Adams was finally sworn in at 12:01 a.m. on New Year’s Day. The Oregonian reports that about 40 people were there to witness the ceremony, including his partner, Peter Zuckerman.

Though Adams’s sexuality never became a factor in the race, before it officially began, he was the subject of a smear campaign from a would-be rival, gay real estate developer Bob Ball.

Ball attempted to link Adams to an encounter with an underage intern -- an attempt that failed.

Portland is now the largest city in the United States with an openly gay mayor.

"This is a testament to how fair-minded Portlanders are that it wasn't an issue. I spend my time on the basic issues of life,” Adams told the Associated Press. “A part of that includes equal rights, but that's not even close to a majority of the time. My passions for public service includes promoting social justice, equality for all, but it obviously also includes finding good jobs for people, which is also part of my family's background of not being able to always have economic security. Being gay is part of me, so is being Irish-American, so is being from a small Oregon town." (Advocate.com)

Keywords:  Sam Adams 
Related stories from Advocate.com

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: david
    Date posted: 2009-01-27 7:21 PM
    Hometown: berkeley

    Comment:

    wow, just got a look at Portland's mayor... lucky 18 year old...


  • Name: Nicole Miyamoto
    Date posted: 2009-01-25 9:43 PM
    Hometown: Portland Oregon

    Comment:

    @ Diane What about Mark Foley? He is a lifelong Republican and had SEVERAL inapproriate relationships with congressional pages- young men for whose well-being our FEDERAL government is responsible for! He wasn't even censored by the Senate, yet alone arrested for solicting a minor-which last I checked was a CRIME. All Sam Adams is guilty of is having a relationship with a 18 year old young man-which may have been misguided but it's not illegal. I don't agree with what he did, I am just saying that at least Sam Adams is no Mark Foley, and I think that we need to put these things into perpective. And while age is not a `magical step` into adulthood, legally this young man was able to make his own choices. (If he under duress, that's a different story all together.) And hundreds of 18 year olds make the same choice everyday. Maybe you should to try to decrease the number of teens having sex and teen pregnancies in your own community.....just a suggestion.


  • Name: Regina Boguski
    Date posted: 2009-01-21 11:02 AM
    Hometown: Portland

    Comment:

    Why do people excuse this type of behavior because the young man was 18 or almost 18? That is still a child! The point is that the mayor exploited a young person, lied about it, and then had the young person whom he had a totally inappropriate relationship with, lie as well. A birthday is not a magical step into adulthood. He was obviously just looking to not have a legal problem and was very manipulative in his behavior. Why would anyone want someone that acts that way leading a city? Leaders are supposed to be people we can look up to, as well as people we can trust. We need a different leader.


  • Name: Phag
    Date posted: 2009-01-21 1:50 AM
    Hometown: SF

    Comment:

    Mr Mayor, although I am a straight Asian male I am a huge fan of yours and what you do for Portland. In fact I am thinking about starting a relationship with a hot little 17 y/o chick I met at a local high school. Just to make sure, it is ok to get into the relationship now, and then tell people I waited until she's 18 before it got sexual. I look forward to reading more tips on how to take advantage of young adults so I will keep following your story. I am sure this example of wonderful judgement on your part will serve the citizens of Portland well.


  • Name: Jim
    Date posted: 2009-01-20 7:00 PM
    Hometown: Elizabethtown PA

    Comment:

    The remarks of some of these bigots are just plain stupid. First of all, the young man was 18. That's legal...end of story. Second, his opponent tried to smear him by using the gay card...not his ability to be Mayor or the positions that he represented....his opponent doesn't sound like a man of very much integrity. Third, stick the sodomy issue where the sun don't shine. Sodomy isn't a crime...just because you don't like the type of sex someone else is having, doesn't make it not right...keep your self righteous religious views to yourself. Fourth, stop mouthing things like White Power, Black Power, Latino Power...get off your ass and make things happen. Don't condemn others who are in the forefront doing things. Lastly, I grow tired of people with computers saying anything that they want. You should be held accountable in a court of law for your big mouths


  • Name: Steve Kasel
    Date posted: 2009-01-20 3:59 PM
    Hometown: Aurora, OR

    Comment:

    in addition to exercising incredibly questionable judgement with the 17-18 year-old, he hired a young journalist with no experience to hold an important position on his staff. this young journalist was pursuing a story about the 17-18 year-old boy sam liked, and was going to go public with it at her newspaper. must be nice to hire on anyone who's after you. one last question: EXACTLY WHY, AGAIN, IS IT THAT I KNOW SAM IS GAY?


  • Name: Juan
    Date posted: 2009-01-20 7:10 AM
    Hometown: Lowell

    Comment:

    YOUR Mayor is a liar. He LIED about an affair with whom he now claims he did not have a sexual affair with until the young man was 18 years of age. Hmmm, if he lied about having the affair, why should we believe that he isn't lying about having gay sex with the young man while he was 17??? Secondly, you say that it would be an "HONOR" to have more gays in congress????? What HONOR is that? How about electing people with integrity and honesty? I'm sure that sodomy is not an honor filled tradition.


  • Name: Diana Bennett
    Date posted: 2009-01-20 3:37 AM
    Hometown: Orlando, FL

    Comment:

    Another gay (Democrat) politician is found to have had sexual relations with a young male intern. Yet another strike against the gay community in the eyes of the straight community. I am finding it hard to believe Mr. Adams waited until the intern turned 18. After all, Sam Adams lied about the relationship to begin with. Why should we believe him now?


  • Name: Craig
    Date posted: 2009-01-20 2:44 AM
    Hometown: Portland

    Comment:

    As a straight man who has lived in portland all my life I'm proud to have him as our Mayor. Good luck to you Sam, and good luck to everyone seeking the rights that we all should have. Those rights that have been granted to me but have not been granted to all. We still have a long way to go but at least we're taking it step by step down the path. Cheers!


  • Name: Noah Mickens
    Date posted: 2009-01-08 11:08 AM
    Hometown: Portland

    Comment:

    I performed at the inauguration party with Wanderlust Circus (I'm the ringmaster); and I'm happy to say that Mr. Adams did indeed acknowledge his partner. He even brought him up onstage for a minute, but he seemed like a very shy fellow who didn't like being up there very much. Also, there were WAY more than 40 people in there. I'd call it 250-300. Last but not least: I myself am an impoverished high school dropout who hasn't held a straight job in about 4 years, and Sam was extremely nice to me. Very humble, very friendly. There were people of all colors and shapes and sizes chumming around with him. This is one of the things I love about Sam Adams, who is not a personal friend by the way. I once saw him cross a room full of supporters to give a big hug to my pre-op transsexual friend Llewyn, who has tattoos all over zir face and a literal bone through zir nose, while press cameras crowded around with flashbulbs popping. Sam Adams makes me so proud.


  • Name: Ben
    Date posted: 2009-01-07 9:34 AM
    Hometown: nyc

    Comment:

    In your speech, you never acknowledged or thanked your partner. That type of visibility was upsetting, seeing as how you showed charisma, excellent public speaking and empathy for the public.


  • Name: Antonio
    Date posted: 2009-01-06 10:33 AM
    Hometown: LOS ANGELES

    Comment:

    Oh, he's a cutie. I wish we had a mayor like him in Los Angeles. Instead we have a womanizer.


  • Name: Jodi
    Date posted: 2009-01-05 2:26 AM
    Hometown: Portland

    Comment:

    Congratulations, Sam! From a longtime Portlander ... I'm glad you are our new mayor, but also proud you were elected based on your accomplishments and commitment to the City of Roses. I wish you all the best!


  • Name: Mario
    Date posted: 2009-01-04 8:06 PM
    Hometown: Portland, OR

    Comment:

    Excuse me but I live in Portland Oregon and I've met Sam Adams. Although it is a sign of progress of change that an openly gay man is now a mayor of a major city, it is sad that that man is also an arrogant rude pretentious snob that looks down on people less fortunate than himself. The times I have met him were very unpleasant because of his lousy attitude, excuse me for not being a rich white "power" gay--Im just a working class latino trying to make ends meet.


  • Name: Loren
    Date posted: 2009-01-04 6:17 PM
    Hometown: Orlando

    Comment:

    kudos for Adams. i hope with this opportunity he will be able to elevate up the totem pole. it would be an honor to see more gays in congress.


  • Name: perrywinkle
    Date posted: 2009-01-04 4:21 PM
    Hometown: pdx

    Comment:

    i saw sam adams scarfing crackers at crush, once. i love naughty mayors


  • Name: anto
    Date posted: 2009-01-04 1:57 PM
    Hometown: dublin

    Comment:

    I want to wish Sam the very best as he takes up his post, it sure is good to have some good news for a change, the people of Portland are fab for electing Sam, this is a positive story which I doubt Fox News will be reporting, having an out person elected is such an important event, I think that its fitting during this time whatwith the movie of Harvey Milk, Harvey would be so pleased with this news, lets hope that other states will elect likewise, anto


  • Name: Rick Monroe
    Date posted: 2009-01-03 6:53 AM
    Hometown: Brightwood

    Comment:

    Dear Mr. Adams PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT CLACKAMAS COUNTY NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FLOODS... clackamas county has refused for TWO Years to help in any way to fix the SANDY RIVER... eventhough where the dike went out was on CLACKAMAS CO. PROPERTY IN BRIGHTWOOD! and Now leaving a Pregnet Woman stranded! WHO is the person making this decision not to help the public? Please get rid of them and help fix the problem.... Clackamas Co. had an agreement with a company that was suppose to maintain the dike in Brightwood from the 1996 flood and that company has gone out of business... so Clackamas says SORRY ..TOO BAD HA HA! this is not fair and you know who to talk to so that we can stop this Madness! My parents are still in a trailer after TWO years of fighting with Clackamas CO. Please help us.(Please forward this to Sam Adams} Thank You. Rick Monroe


  • Name: Ravi
    Date posted: 2009-01-02 8:27 PM
    Hometown: St Louis, MO

    Comment:

    Congratulations, Mr. Adams! And props to the people of Portland for electing the best person for the job, without allowing bigotry to influence your decision.


Back to top

Submit a comment for this story:

*Type your comment here (Required, 1000 characters max. HTML formatting and hyperlinks are NOT permitted.):

*Name (Required): 

*Hometown (Required): 

*E-mail address: (Required, but will not be displayed)

Is this comment for publication? 
Yes   No

Daytime phone number: (Required for print publication only and will not be displayed)

Please enter the words you see in the box, in order and separated by a space. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this service.

  

If you would like to submit a comment for posting, please fill out the form above. 

All comments submitted via this form are subject to posting or publication. (To send a private letter to an Advocate editor or writer, please use the e-mail button at the top of the page, or use snail mail.) If you would like your comment considered for publication in The Advocate magazine, please include your full name, your city of residence, and a phone number where you can be reached during business hours so that we can confirm your identity. Your e-mail address and telephone number are strictly confidential and will not be shared or used for any purpose other than to contact you about your comment.

See the Contact page for sending comments for reasons other than responding to Advocate editorial and news stories.

Please note that comments sent by fax or snail mail are unlikely to be posted, although they will be considered for publication along with all letters received via e-mail or via this Web page. Comments that chiefly concern Advocate.com content will be considered for posting only on the Web site. The Advocate reserves the right to edit submitted comments for grammar, spelling, obscenities, or libel; we will, however, do our best to preserve the original comment's style and intent. Comments considered for publication in The Advocate magazine may also be edited for length.

More Exclusives
  • View From the Hill: The End of DADT?
    Defense Secretary Robert Gates revealed that lawyers are exploring ways to ease enforcement of the military's gay ban, but cautioned that the law doesn't leave much wiggle room. He need look no further than DOD history for a lesson in altering the policy.
  • Hot Sheet: Week of July 5
    When you get back from that big 4th of July barbecue, unwind with Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno and your favorite B-movie-mocking, basic cable robots.
  • Hungry Like the Wolf
    A master of viola, ukulele, piano, and harp, Patrick Wolf is a music prodigy -- one who, the night before this interview, spit on a cop and got himself arrested.
  • Soapside: Advocate's Guide to Daytime
    Forbes March talks about playing gay, Otalia fans outraged, update on One Life to Live’s Patricia Maurceri’s firing over gay plot point, Phillip Chancellor III big reveal, and Erica Kane goes to Africa.
  • The Faces of Federal Prop. 8
    With the federal challenge to Prop. 8 moving full speed ahead, Advocate.com sits down with the two couples named as plaintiffs in the suit.
  • Mommy, the Gays Are Coming
    After a year of advancements and celebration for gay and lesbian Colombians, the community takes to the streets of Bogota for the country's biggest pride ever.
  • The Pride of Antwerp
    Advocate.com hits the gay-friendly streets of Antwerp with openly gay police commissioner Serge Muyters.
  • Excerpt: Mean Little Deaf Queer
    In an excerpt from her humorous and harrowing new memoir, Mean Little Deaf Queer, Terry Galloway recalls her early childhood, describing feelings of ugliness, confusion about gender, and being one of the boys.
  • Top Political Blogs
    From Joe.My.God to The Daily Beast, Advocate.com spotlights a few of the best blogs that cover politics, inside and way outside the Beltway.
  • The Diva of French Television
    A hot young screenwriter who has made gay OK for millions of French viewers, Nicolas Mercier sips champagne, dons a feathered hat, and says he wants to see Colin Farrell and Jude Law go at it.