Prominent LGBT Rights Activist Terry Bean Sexual Abuse Case Dismissed

Tuesday, September 01, 2015

Jack Rushall, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Terry Bean.

Prominent LGBT rights activist Terry Bean has had sexual abuse charges against him dismissed in Lane County Circuit Court.

Bean and his ex-boyfriend were both accused of having sexual relations with a fifteen-year-old male (now seventeen) in a Eugene hotel room in 2013. However, the alleged victim does not at this time wish to testify.

Speaking on the dismissal of the case, Terry Bean’s lawyer Derek Ashton said, “While we are pleased with today’s outcome, this is a case that should never have been brought in the first place. And in my 29 years of trial work, I have never seen anything like this case where the facts are ignored in a drive for the spotlight.”

Continuing on the subject, Ashton also spoke in favor of Bean’s innocence, “This case fell apart for a lack of evidence. If we had our day in Court, we are certain Mr. Bean would have been found to be innocent of the charges based on four important facts: Terry Bean left the hotel room before anything happened, after being set up there by Kiah Lawson; we had a witness who would have attested to the fact that he left.”

Terry Bean was also relieved. In a statement, Bean commented, “On the advice of my attorney, I have been silent for almost a year so while I am relieved that the charges against me have been dropped, this nightmare never should have even begun. I take some measure of comfort that the world can now see what I have always known--that I was falsely accused and completely innocent of every accusation that was made.”

According to The Register-Guard, the alleged victim is free to reopen the case whenever he is willing to testify.

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.