______________________JANUARY 23, 2009
lUStOUt ■ 3
just out
J
NEWSMAGAZINE
JANUARY 23, 2009
PAGE 16
VOL. 26 NO. 6
A Difficult Decision
Why did Just Out call for the mayor to resign?
Headed by Publisher Marry Davis, Just Out newsmagazine is asking
that Portland Mayor Sam Adams resign from office.
By his own admission, by committing the act of lying to the citizens
of Portland, Adams has failed to show the pnncipled character that this publication
feels is a basic requirement for an elected official.
Just Out acknowledges that over his two decades as a public servant Adams
has risen to become one of Oregon’s most revered openly gay leaders. This publica
tion has long admired Adams’ vision, his intelligence and his tenacity. Ultimately
we have concluded that these qualities cannot overcome the weakness revealed in
Adams' recent admission.
Adams’ apology of yesterday, including specific reference to the gay commu
nity, while sincere, is not enough. The bond of trust and confidence has been bro
ken. Adams has previously stated his hope that gay and lesbian youth might one
day kxik to him as a role model and example. His own actions have now rendered
this implausible.
Reaction to the posting was immediate. Many people expressed frustra
tion and anger with the decision. Most commonly expressed was the belief
that Just Out acted t<x) soon. It was repeatedly stated that Just Out should
have waited for an investigation to be completed and that who Adams had
sex with was no one’s business. Consistently readers stated their belief that
all politicians lie, so what’s the big deal anyway?
Why did Just Out make such a quick decision in calling for the mayor to
resign?
Because, following Adams’ press conference Jan. 20, it was evident that
he had been caught in his own complex and calculated series of lies. Let’s
be clear: These were not “Who ate the last cookie?” type of lies. These were
manipulative lies intended to deceive every citizen of Portland. The desire
to be elected mayor was so great that Adams was willing to compromise his
integrity and his values in the pursuit of the goal.
In September 2007, after allegations that Adams had engaged in a sexual
relationship with a minor, a tight-lipped and chilly Adams called me and Just
Out news staff into his office for an interview. We sat there for 30 minutes,
questioning the steely jawed commissioner as he clenched in righteous indig
nation over the “lies” that were being spread about his character and moral
fiber. We listened, we believed, we trusted. We came back to this publication
and wrote our words of support for Adams and encouraged our community
to rally around our gay icon. Adams deliberately duped this publication into
spreading his falsehixxls. Now it might be asked, “Is there now a feeling of
anger toward Adams causing Just Out to react in retribution by asking for the
resignation?”
No, that is not the case. It’s a matter of clarity of conviction, of seeing the
actions then and the results now.
The bonds of trust between Adams and Portland have been broken. You
cannot lead those who no longer have the will to follow. Portland is a city
in need of leadership and in need of it now. Our economy is broken, and our
infrastructure is falling apart. We don’t have the time to rehabilitate a fallen,
chastened leader. This is work Adams will need to do on his own.
Readers objecting to our stance also expressed frustration that Just Out
jumped the gun, not waiting for the results of an investigation. What dif
ference would this make? Adams, after cornered by Willamette Week, had no
recourse but to admit he lied. There’s no new information coming forward to
salvage this truth. There are no investigation results that can come along to
make this situation any better. It is what it is.
There are many who view this as a matter of privacy and the right for
everyone, including Adams, to have a personal and private sex life. Everyone
does have this right. And Adams had the right to make that clear in
September 2007 when called into accountability. He chose a different path.
The path chosen led him to where he is tixlay.
There are those who have complained that we are holding our politi
cians—and Adams, as a gay man—to a higher standard than we hold oth
ers. My belief is that when it comes to the truth, there should be only one
standard. And we should all hold ourselves, and each other, accountable to
this standard.
Comments on our Web site, and others, consistently threw out
statements like: “Politicians lie, they all lie. Get over it, Just Out.” So,
folks, when did that become acceptable? When did we become people
who tolerate or accept being lied to? What’s wrong with this picture,
Portland?
Making the decision to call for Adams’ resignation was difficult for all
of us. It may have appeared hasty, but it was well thought out. We brought
to our decision-making table the knowledge that came from having sat in
a rixim with Commissioner Adams the day he chose to back himself into a
comer. A corner that ultimately allowed him no escape.
Sam Adams is a gifted and talented public servant. His years of hard work
earned him many loyal supporters. It’s unfortunate that he chose to let them
all down. 1 personally gave Sam Adams my vote, my support, my friendship
and my money. In return, he took my trust.
FEATURE
16 GOOD GRIEF
Devout woman questions blind
faith after gay son’s 1983 suicide in
Portland: The story behind Prayers for
Bobby starring Sigourney Weaver
NEWS
7-15 NORTHWEST
Sex scandal shocks
queer Portland;
Brody Theater opens
at former Shanghai
Steakery; BRO’s
legislative wish list;
activist pastor holds
training; Central
Coast PFLAG
emerges; Equality
on Campus Day is
Jan. 27; SMYRC,
Q Center plan moves; Julianna Jaffe off
to NYC; McMenamins project on hold;
trans activist ascends another rank; case
closed for legal challenge to Measure 36;
filing taxes will never be the same
ARTS & CULTURE
28 NIGHTLIFE
Portland Sisters keeping the bad habit
29 MUSIC
Amy Ray goes solo
30 CULTURE
Playwright feels boxed in by womanhixxl;
documentary examines community’s
role in gender transitions
31 FILM
Portland documentarian examines
society’s crippling relationship
with the almighty dollar
reflections
32 THEATER
Portland thespians explore open
relationships, female fantasies
15 Years Ago In Just Oof...volume 11 number 6, January 21,1994
• Longtime Portland performer Misty Waters
shop in the city's Castro District. It contained I • Republicans for Individual Freedoms, an or-
Shanklin, known by many simply as Misty
the
Waters, died Dec. 15 of complications due to
Gotta Give ’Em Hope."
inscription
"You
AIDS. She was 36 years old. Born as Sullivan
ganization of gay Republicans,
is planning to start a chapter
33 JIM'S CLOSET
in Oregon. The group has more
A Kiss Is Just a Kiss
Johnson, he served honorably in the U.S. Marines
• Barney,
for three years. Later in life he underwent the
purple
physical transformation to become a woman.
lar
As Misty Waters, Johnson was crowned Miss
is being advertised by
Oregon and Princess XI during her career as a
a minister in Charlotte,
• After more than two years of
stage entertainer. Her brother, Woody Johnson,
N.C., as a "new age
planning and thought, organizers
also known as Lady Elaine Peacock, died in
demon" who promotes
of a Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual
October of complications from AIDS.
"homosexuality."
Community Center are moving
PBS-TV's
dinosaur
with
popu
preschoolers,
than 200 members nationwide,
with about a dozen living in
Oregon.
ahead to the next stages of de
• San Franciscans recently honored the memo
• Leila
and
velopment. Writing articles of
ry of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay member
Don Powell are the new
incorporation and bylaws, form
of the city's Board of Supervisors. Former po
co-chairs of the Right
ing task-specific committees and
liceman Dan White assassinated Milk 15 years
to Privacy Political Action Committee. Right to
gaining nonprofit status are the next goals of the
ago on Nov. 27. A plaque was unveiled in front
Privacy PAC is a separate organization from
center organizers. A rented or donated location
of the store where Milk once owned a camera
Right to Privacy Inc.
still has to be established.
Wrathall
COLUMNS
42 MS. BEHAVIOR
Get Over Yourself
PAGE 7
he following post appeared on JustOut.com at 1:45 p.m. Jan. 21: