Sam Adams
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we had transgender police officers in that video. We have gay cops, lesbian
cops, and transgender cops all together in the Portland Police Bureau “It
Gets Better” video. It was a marker of improvement.
JO: If you could be any public official, anywhere, who would it be, and
why?
SA: (Laughs) I’ve never been asked that question! I would say a member of
the U.S. Supreme Court; probably still one of the most powerful yet legally
secretive bodies in the world, definitely in the United States. Part of their
esprit de corps is to be very stone-faced. But I’d like to know what is go-
ing on. I find it intriguing. And I’d want to be there when gay marriage is
before them, so I could do my best to convince the majority that marriage
for all — no kidding, no fooling — is what is called for by the Constitution,
regardless whether the framers wrote it out explicitly. Because we’re either
all created equal here in America, or we’re not.
but make people feel welcome.
JO: What would you tell a young LGBTQ person who said they want to get
involved in politics?
SA: Do it, absolutely!
JO: How?
SA: Anything from volunteering with your local political party, or with
one of the many great advocacy groups in Portland. You can go online and
take free courses in public management and political science, but there’s so
much in being a public servant or political activist that you can only learn
by getting out there and doing it. So volunteer. Join your neighborhood
association. Portland has a great neighborhood and business association
network. There are all kinds of opportunities in our city based on how
much time you have and what your interests are.
JO: Who’s the most impressive person you’ve ever personally met?
SA: Hmmm … I am spoiled, because I’ve met a lot of impressive people.
How do I narrow it down to one? Excluding family?
JO: Yes, public figures.
SA: I’m comparing and contrasting all the people I’ve met. And, no one has
impressed me more as a public official than Vera Katz. And to make sure
this is an honest answer, I am comparing her to Bill Clinton, comparing
her to Barack Obama, comparing her to all the amazing, talented interna-
tional leaders I’ve had the good fortune to meet. And, I would still say the
most amazing public official I’ve ever met is former Portland Mayor Vera
Katz, who I had the great honor to work for.
Vera Katz had to overcome, on a personal level, escaping the Holocaust
in a family that had previously escaped the Russian Revolution, and then
come to live as immigrants in Brooklyn. She came through all that with a
passion for public service. For decades she was a volunteer, a neighbor-
hood leader, a volunteer lobbyist for farm workers. And later, when her
son was older, she ran for the State Legislature. Here is a woman who by
all laws of averages shouldn’t have, couldn’t have, there’s no way she could
have possibly become the first woman Speaker of the Oregon House of
Representatives, or Mayor of the City of Portland. So she is an amazing
person who, by the way she’s led her life and the way she’s governed as a
public official, is the single the most impressive official I have ever met.
And I’ve met some of the best of the world’s best.
JO: Have you met the Dalai Lama?
SA: Yes, I have! What I liked about the Dalai Lama was that … well, he’s got
a great sense of humor. I’m kind of a smartass, and ... you could never say
that about the Dalai Lama ... but he’s very … mirthful (laughter) ... and you
don’t expect that. When you meet folks in person after seeing them being
portrayed in the media, you notice the difference right away. Public figures
have a public image the media have often set up. So when you meet them,
sometimes it’s the same, and sometimes it’s just very different. The Dalai
Lama is very approachable, very down to earth, with this sort of “twinkle
in the eyes” humor.
He was really struck by our Royal Rosarians! He absolutely loved them!
The idea that a city would have official greeters, volunteer greeters ... he’d
never seen that before, and he just remarked what a wonderful statement a
bout a city that would have official greeters, who are there to do nothing
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JO: Has anything about your perspective as a gay man particularly added
to your ability to serve as mayor?
SA: Absolutely. I have an affinity for the “underdog.” At the same time,
because I used to pass as straight, I got to hear what people said behind
the scenes about gay people. So, I would say that it’s been very positive in
being able to look at a situation and have a built-in awareness of injustice
or untapped potentials for greater equality.
Social change isn’t always about injustice. Sometimes it’s that, even in the
LGBTQ community, we haven’t always thought about opportunities we
could take towards equity. When I was working to help co-found the Port-
land Q Center, I was struck that there were over 120 LGBTQ community
centers around the United States, but nothing here. There was nothing
unjust, per se, involved in that. Portland gets high marks for the LGBTQ
community being highly integrated. We haven’t relegated ourselves to a
“gay neighborhood.” But, the flipside of this is a sense, especially for vul-
nerable members of our community, of “where do I go?” for help, support,
and a feeling of community. Seeing a need like this isn’t about injustice,
but seeing an unmet need for equity, which is a perspective any LGBTQ
person can relate with, and then act on.
JO: Any advice for Portland’s next mayor?
SA: Yes. I expect the next mayor to be a huge champion of marriage equal-
ity. The mayor’s office is an important bully pulpit for keeping injustices
visible. Our next mayor will be a straight man, but that doesn’t matter. I
still expect him to fight for and very actively promote marriage for all. I
guess you could call that advice. Soon-to-be “Citizen Sam” is going to be
an advocate to the next mayor to stay strong on this issue.
JO: Are you going to stay a citizen? What’s up next for you?
SA: I’ve got to make a decision on what to do next. My partner is an author
so that provides some flexibility for us. Some of the offers I’ve had have
been outside Portland, some inside. I’d love to stay in Portland, but I have
to make a living. I’m not independently wealthy (laughs). But, I hope to
stay in Portland.
JO: Anything else you want to say to Portland’s LGBTQ community?
SA: I’ve been a public servant for about 30 years now. I am very grateful for
the support I’ve received from this community during my years in office,
and am very proud to be a part of it. §
November 2012