Terry Bean
Terry Bean is a native Oregonian, successful real estate developer, and President and CEO of Bean Investment Real Estate, a private company that trades and invests in commercial real estate as well as large residential complexes. These merits aren’t the only things that Bean is known for though.
Terry Bean is often first recognized as a pioneer in the national civil rights movement, promoting full equality for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, queer and questioning communities. (GLBTQ)
A leader in the movement, Terry Bean, began advocating politically for gay rights in the early 1970’s in Eugene, Oregon. His early successes resulted in the passing of a city gay rights ordinance, which, while was later overturned by voters, set the framework for grassroots organizations and strategies which quickly followed—establishing a pattern of victories which have continued well into this century.
Though Terry Bean is extremely passionate about the national civil rights movement and the LGBT community, this doesn’t limit his philanthropic appetite. Some of Bean’s charitable ventures include being a co-founder of the Gay Games, the largest sporting and cultural event organized by and specifically for LGBT athletes, artists, musicians, and others. Bean won two gold medals in golf in the first games held in San Francisco in 1982.
Bean is co-founder of the Oregon Right to Privacy PAC in the early 1980’s as well as a co-founder of the Equity Foundation, a Portland, Oregon philanthropic organization, formed in 1989 to give grants to LGBT community groups and programs.
Terry Bean has also received honors for his human rights work from Basic Rights Oregon, Oregon Right to Privacy PAC and Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
Though you might get the impression that Terry Bean spends all of his time strategizing political campaigns and participating in charity events, you need only ask him of his other personal passions and interests. Watch his face light up as he speaks of his devotion to his Godchildren, University of Oregon Ducks, golf, jet skiing, hiking, movies, theatre, music, and technology. And I would also think twice before challenging Terry Bean to a game of Words with Friends.
