mconn
10-25-2006, 05:21 PM
Studds made his first run for Congress in 1970, but lost to the incumbent Republican representative in a close election. In his second bid, in 1972, Studds succeeded, becoming the first Democrat in 50 years to win what had been considered a safe Republican seat.
Studds was a central figure in the 1983 Congressional page sex scandal, when he and Representative Dan Crane were censured by the House of Representatives for separate sexual relationships with minors – in Studds' case, a 1973 sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male congressional page who was of the age of legal consent. The relationship was consensual (which made it legal, in accordance with state law), although very unprofessional of a politician, presenting ethical concerns relating to working relationships with subordinates.
During the course of the House Ethics Committee's investigation, Studds publicly acknowledged his homosexuality, a disclosure that, according to a Washington Post article, "apparently was not news to many of his constituents." Studds stated in an address to the House, "It is not a simple task for any of us to meet adequately the obligations of either public or private life, let alone both, but these challenges are made substantially more complex when one is, as I am, both an elected public official and gay." He acknowledged that it had been inappropriate to engage in a relationship with a subordinate, and said his actions represented "a very serious error in judgment."[2]
The House voted to censure Studds, on July 20, 1983, by a vote of 420-3. While Studds has often been reported as having "turned his back on the House" as the House read its censure motion aloud,[3] contemporary reports made it clear that in contrast to Crane, who faced the House as the motion for his censure was read, Studds faced the Speaker who was actually reading the motion, with his back to the other members.[4] Also in contrast to Crane, who left the chamber after his censure, Studds rejoined the other members of the House after his censure was read.[4] In addition to the censure, the Democratic leadership stripped Studds of his chairmanship of the House Merchant Marine Subcommittee. Studds was later appointed chair of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Studds received two standing ovations from supporters in his home district at his first town meeting following his congressional censure.[5]
Studds defended his sexual relationship with the minor as a "consensual relationship with a young adult." The page later appeared publicly with Studds in support of him. Dean Hara, whom Studds married in 2004, said after Studds' death in 2006 that Studds had never been ashamed of the relationship with the page. "This young man knew what he was doing," Hara said.[6]
More from the San Francisco Chronicle:
The Foley scandal is hardly the first involving pages, but it demonstrates the potency of the issue for Republicans. Then-Rep. Gerry Studds, a Massachusetts Democrat, refused to apologize in 1983 for his sexual relationship with a page 10 years earlier, and he even turned his back on the House when the charges against him were read. Studds acknowledged for the first time that he was gay when the relationship came to light, and he held a press conference with the page during which both stated that their actions were no one else's business. Studds was easily re-elected for five more terms until he retired in 1997.
Studds was a central figure in the 1983 Congressional page sex scandal, when he and Representative Dan Crane were censured by the House of Representatives for separate sexual relationships with minors – in Studds' case, a 1973 sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male congressional page who was of the age of legal consent. The relationship was consensual (which made it legal, in accordance with state law), although very unprofessional of a politician, presenting ethical concerns relating to working relationships with subordinates.
During the course of the House Ethics Committee's investigation, Studds publicly acknowledged his homosexuality, a disclosure that, according to a Washington Post article, "apparently was not news to many of his constituents." Studds stated in an address to the House, "It is not a simple task for any of us to meet adequately the obligations of either public or private life, let alone both, but these challenges are made substantially more complex when one is, as I am, both an elected public official and gay." He acknowledged that it had been inappropriate to engage in a relationship with a subordinate, and said his actions represented "a very serious error in judgment."[2]
The House voted to censure Studds, on July 20, 1983, by a vote of 420-3. While Studds has often been reported as having "turned his back on the House" as the House read its censure motion aloud,[3] contemporary reports made it clear that in contrast to Crane, who faced the House as the motion for his censure was read, Studds faced the Speaker who was actually reading the motion, with his back to the other members.[4] Also in contrast to Crane, who left the chamber after his censure, Studds rejoined the other members of the House after his censure was read.[4] In addition to the censure, the Democratic leadership stripped Studds of his chairmanship of the House Merchant Marine Subcommittee. Studds was later appointed chair of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Studds received two standing ovations from supporters in his home district at his first town meeting following his congressional censure.[5]
Studds defended his sexual relationship with the minor as a "consensual relationship with a young adult." The page later appeared publicly with Studds in support of him. Dean Hara, whom Studds married in 2004, said after Studds' death in 2006 that Studds had never been ashamed of the relationship with the page. "This young man knew what he was doing," Hara said.[6]
More from the San Francisco Chronicle:
The Foley scandal is hardly the first involving pages, but it demonstrates the potency of the issue for Republicans. Then-Rep. Gerry Studds, a Massachusetts Democrat, refused to apologize in 1983 for his sexual relationship with a page 10 years earlier, and he even turned his back on the House when the charges against him were read. Studds acknowledged for the first time that he was gay when the relationship came to light, and he held a press conference with the page during which both stated that their actions were no one else's business. Studds was easily re-elected for five more terms until he retired in 1997.