Terry Bean

About Terry Bean

Terry Bean is an American real estate investor and LGBTQ+ rights advocate based in Portland, Oregon. He is the CEO and President of Bean Investment Real Estate, a firm focused on multi-family housing and condominium conversions. Over the past four decades, Bean has led the acquisition, management, and sale of more than 20,000 housing units, with total property values exceeding $1 billion.

Bean began his activism in the 1970s while attending the University of Oregon. He became involved in anti-Vietnam War protests and LGBTQ+ advocacy. In 1978, he co-founded the Gay Rights National Lobby, which later helped form the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). He also co-founded the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund in 1991, an organisation that supports openly LGBTQ+ political candidates.

In Oregon, Bean helped create the Right to Privacy PAC and the Equity Foundation, both aimed at supporting LGBTQ+ causes. He played a key role in defeating Oregon Measure 9 in 1992, which would have added anti-gay language to the state constitution. Bean also led fundraising efforts for national Democratic campaigns, including those of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. He was the first openly gay member of Obama’s National Finance Committee.

Bean remains active in both real estate and advocacy. In 2008, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski declared August 23 “Terry Bean Equality Day” in his honour. In 2018, he led the successful campaign to rename a Portland street after Harvey Milk. Bean continues to support LGBTQ+ rights and political engagement at local and national levels.