slides: Timeline of Terry Bean’s Life and Political Activism

Friday, November 21, 2014

Shelby Sebens, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Terry Bean at the gay gights march in the 1970's, via terry-bean.com

Terry Bean has been fighting for gay rights since the 1970s and has been building his political might over the decades, listing powerful friends from former Vice President Al Gore to President Barack Obama.

But the reputation of the notable activist, who has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Democratic Party, took a major blow Wednesday when police arrested him on sex charges relating to an incident with a juvenile male in Lane County.

See Slides Below: Timeline of Terry Bean's Life and Political Activism

Bean’s lawyer has denied any wrongdoing. His former lover Kiah Loy Lawson, 25, was also arrested Wednesday on sex crime charges.

Bean’s activism started in the 1970s when he lobbied for a gay rights ordinance in Eugene and elevated in 1980 when helped found the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBT equal rights advocacy group in the nation.

Bean, president and CEO of Bean Investment Real Estate, has also raised thousands of dollars for state and federal politicians. His prominent events included a ride in Air Force One and social gatherings with former American presidents and vice presidents.

Bean, 66, raised over $146,000 for Obama’s 2012 presidential re-election campaign. He has also personally donated close to $20,000 to Oregon politicians since 2007, including Gov. John Kitzhaber, Secretary of State Kate Brown and Portland Mayor Charlie Hales.

Below is a timeline of Bean’s civil and political activism and his ultimate criminal arrest.

Related Slideshow: Timeline of Terry Bean’s Life and Political Activism

Below is a timeline of Bean’s civil and political activism and his ultimate criminal arrest.

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1978

Bean lobbied for a gay rights ordinance in Eugene that would have prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, public accommodation and employment. The push for an ordinance provoked anti-gay rights backlash and ended in a signature drive that sent the measure to the ballot where it lost 2-1. Bean led the campaign to support the referendum.

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1979

Bean helped organize the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Thousands marched in support of gay rights, demanding a federal ban on discrimination. The march is largely credited for galvanizing and brining gay rights activists across the nation to start fighting as one.

Photo: Terry Bean at the gay gights march in the 1970's, via terry-bean.com

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1980

Bean helped start the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBT equal rights advocacy group and political lobbying organization in the United States. The advocacy groups works at equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. The group has about 1.5 million members and supporters nationwide, according to its website. Bean was also a board member and represented Portland.

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1989

Bean co-founded the Equity Foundation, a Portland-based philanthropic organization that gives grants to LGBT community groups. He is currently a member of the advisory board.

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1991

Bean helped found the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a national political fundraising organization. The group works to get LGBT candidates elected to office by raising money and supporting candidates.

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2000-2002

Bean is instrumental in acquiring the headquarters building for the Human Rights Campaign in D.C. HRC officials credited Bean, who headed the fundraising campaign for the building, for getting it with his real estate experience.

Photo: Human Rights Campaign headquarters in DC, via Wikimedia Commons.

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2007

Bean is recognized with an eight minute tribute video at the “Masquerade, Basic Rights Oregon 25th Annual Award Dinner” where former Vice President Al Gore made an appearance and called Bean his friend, according to the Willamette Week.

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2008

Former Governor Ted Kulongoski declares Aug. 23 Terry Bean Day, recognizing the activists for his civil rights work in the 1970s and beyond. Bean was also awarded the Legacy Award for lifetime achievement in human rights advocacy by the Human Rights Campaign that same year.

Photo: Former Governor Ted Kulongoski, via Wikimedia Commons

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2008

Bean's real estate company hits hard times.

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2012

Bean works as a fundraiser for the Obama campaign. He is invited on Air Force One and donates $500,000 to the campaign. He is even thanked by Obama in a speech during a fundraising event in Portland.

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Nov. 19, 2014

Bean is charged with two counts of sodomy and the sexual abuse of a juvenile male, according to the Portland Police Bureau. Bean’s attorney argues that Bean is innocent and that his arrest was part of an “extortion ring” orchestrated by his former lover Kiah Loy Lawson.

Lawson, 25, was arrested late Wednesday night after turning himself into police. Lawson was indicted by a Lane County grand jury on sex abuse charges and two counts of sodomy, according to police.