Gay Portland mayor admits lying about relationship

Portland's Mayor Sam Adams, the first openly-gay mayor of a major metropolitan city, admitted on Tuesday to having a brief sexual relationship with a 18-year-old in 2005. He had asked the young man to lie for him and deny the relationship publicly.

An official statement:

I want to publicly acknowledge a mistake I have made and I want to apologize for it.

In the past, I have characterized my relationship with Beau Breedlove as purely non-sexual. That is not true. Beau Breedlove and I had a sexual relationship for a few months in the summer of 2005 after he turned 18 years of age.

I should have been honest at the time about the true nature of my relationship with Beau Breedlove when questions about my relationship with him first surfaced publicly in October 2007. In fact, Beau encouraged me to be honest about the facts of our relationship. I am deeply sorry that I asked him to lie for me.

I lied at the time because I was afraid that people would believe untrue rumors, being circulated by an undeclared mayoral opponent, that I had broken a law involving sexual relations with a minor. But this is not a good excuse.

Until today, with the exception of Beau, I have not discussed with anyone the true nature of my relationship with him: not with my colleagues, staff, friends or family.

I apologize to Beau for asking him to lie for me. I apologize to my colleagues for my poor handling of this matter. I apologize to the people of Portland for my dishonesty. I should have been truthful from the beginning.

Mayor Sam Adams

Video of press conference: Click here.

Gay bishop delivers inaugural invocation, HBO controversy

Gene Robinson, the first openly-Gay Episcopal bishop, delivered the invocation at the kick-off Presidential Inaugural event on Sunday, but you may not have seen it -- at least on HBO's coverage. According to HBO, the Presidential Inaugural Committee decided to put the event in the pre-show festivities. One LGBT-allied blogger, TV Barn, addressed the issue. For those of you who missed it, here is video courtesy of Christianity Today Magazine:

Seattle Gay News announces Best of Travel 2008

On January 2, Seattle Gay News revealed its first-ever picks for the Best of Travel. Arts & Entertainment writers Albert Rodriguez, Richard Kennedy, Ron Anders and Jessica Price collaboratively chose the best hotels, restaurants, bars and spas from various trips they embarked on in 2008. Below are the lists grouped by category, in alphabetical order, of these selections.

Visit www.sgn.org, scroll down and click on the January 2 issue (A&E section) for details on any or all of the below. Seattle Gay News publishes travel features on regional, national and international destinations throughout the year. Pictured: Hotel deLuxe lobby in Portland, Oregon.

Best Hotels and Overnight Stays

1 Ashton Woods Retreat (Bainbridge Island, Washington)
2 Clos du Lethe (St. Mediers, France)
3 Hotel deLuxe (Portland, Oregon)
4 Le Montrose (West Hollywood, California)
5 Maui Sunseeker (Kihei, Hawaii)
6 The Nines (Portland, Oregon)
7 Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa (Lahaina, Hawaii)
8 VIA Rail "Silver & Blue Class" (Western Canada)
9 Villa Mazarin (Aigues-Mortes, France)
10 Willows Lodge (Woodinville, Washington)

Best Restaurants

1 Four Swallows (Bainbridge Island, Washington)
2 Italian Kitchen (Vancouver BC, Canada)
3 La Parenthese (Uzes, France)
4 Lahaina Grill (Lahaina, Hawaii)
5 MAC 24-7 (Honolulu, Hawaii)
6 The Mews Restaurant and Cafe (Provincetown, Massachusetts)
7 Murano (West Hollywood, California)
8 Nell Thorn Restaurant and Pub (LaConner, Washington)
9 Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar (Kapalua, Hawaii)
10 Urban Farmer (Portland, Oregon)

Best Bars and Lounges

1 The Bar at Central House, Crown & Anchor Inn (Provincetown, Massachusetts)
2 Cactus Club Cafe - Bentall Centre (Vancouver BC, Canada)
3 Fifty Two 80 Bar (Whistler BC, Canada)
4 Gifford House (Provincetown, Massachusetts)
5 Le Dip (Nimes, France)
6 Moonlight Lounge at the Westin (Kaanapali, Hawaii)
7 Rumfire (Honolulu, Hawaii)
8 Salt (Vancouver BC, Canada)
9 Seawatch Restaurant and Lounge (Wailea, Hawaii)
10 Vino Volo (Seattle-Tacoma International Airport)

Best Spas

1 Absolut Spa at Century Plaza Hotel & Spa (Vancouver BC, Canada)
2 The Gendarmerie (West Hollywood, California)
3 Gene Juarez Men's Salon (Bellevue, Washington)
4 Miraj Hammam (Vancouver BC, Canada)
5 Skoah (Vancouver BC, Canada)
6 Spa Chakra (Portland, Oregon)
7 The Spa at Alderbrook Resort & Spa (Union, Washington)
8 Vida Wellness Spa (Seattle, Washington)
9 Wet (Las Vegas, Nevada)
10 Willows Lodge Spa (Woodinville, Washington)

Seattle Gay News announces Best Films of 2008

Seattle Gay News is pleased to reveal its choices for the Best of Film 2008. Film writers Sara Michelle Fetters and Scott Rice published individual lists in back to back issues, December 26 and January 2. Below are their top ten selections. Visit www.sgn.org to read blurbs on each of these films and to find out Sara's and Scott's picks for the year's worst.

Sara Michelle Fetter's Top 10

1 Wall-E
2 The Edge of Heaven
3 The Dark Knight
4 (tie) I've Loved You So Long
Rachel Getting Married
5 The Wrestler
6 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
7 The Visitor
8 Man on Wire
9 Tropic Thunder
10 Wendy and Lucy

Scott Rice's Top 10

1 The Dark Knight
2 Encounters at the End of the World
3 Full Bottle Throttle
4 JCVD
5 Let the Right One In
6 Mamma Mia!
7 Mongol
8 Paranoid Park
9 The Pool
10 Slumdog Millionaire

Best of Travel 2008 out now

Seattle Gay News is proud to feature its first-ever Best of Travel in this week's issue, out now. One of a few gay publications in the entire country with in-house travel writers, Seattle Gay News reveals its picks for the Best Hotels and Overnight Stays, Restaurants, Bars-Lounges, and Spas from the many places visited in 2008.

If you travel often, for leisure and/or business, or are planning an upcoming trip - grab a copy of the January 2 issue of Seattle Gay News or view it online (www.sgn.org) to find out what hotels, diners, hotspots and spas made the list of the year's best.

In the weeks ahead, Seattle Gay News will include travel features on Willows Lodge, Las Vegas' remodeled Treasure Island, and what's hip and new in nearby Portland. For first class travel coverage, stay glued to Seattle Gay News.

Best of Travel 2008 out now. Pictured: Rumfire in Honolulu.

SGN cited by Huffington Post

The Seattle Gay News' own Jim Toevs was cited by the Huffington Post.

Jim Toevs of the Seattle Gay News suggests that Warren's increased contact, due to the controversy, with gay people may even transform him into a gay ally.

To see Toevs' commentary for yourself, click here!

Seattle Gay News announces Best Albums, Singles of 2008

Seattle Gay News has selected Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes as Album of the Year and "Time to Pretend" by MGMT as Single of the Year, previously announced in our Best of Music 2008 issue on December 19. Our top ten Albums and Singles selections are below, and complete lists including our "worst"choices, hottest artists picks, and exclusive interview with award-winning group Franz Ferdinand can be found at www.sgn.org.

Best Albums/CDs of 2008, in order

1 Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
2 The Odd Couple - Gnarls Barkley
3 Gossip in the Grain - Ray LaMontagne
4 In Rainbows - Radiohead
5 Robyn - Robyn
6 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends - Coldplay
7 Oracular Spectacular - MGMT
8 Narrow Stairs - Death Cab for Cutie
9 Santogold - Santogold
10 LP3 - Ratatat

Best Singles/Tracks of 2008, in order

1 Time to Pretend - MGMT
2 Last Call - Lee Ann Womack
3 Standing Next to Me - The Last Shadow Puppets
4 American Boy - Estelle featuring Kanye West
5 Mr. Pitiful - Matt Costa
6 Shells - M.I.A.
7 Ulysses - Franz Ferdinand
8 Mr. Carter - Lil Wayne featuring Jay-Z
9 Darling - Sons and Daughters
10 Ready for the Floor - Hot Chip

pictured: MGMT