I once heard an old joke that man and a woman had eight children. Seven of them had blonde hair and blue eyes, just like the man. The eighth child, however, had dark hair and brown eyes.
One day, the man asked his wife, “Does one of the children have a different father?”
The woman replied, “Yes, you.”
I had something that happened to me in October that reminded me of this joke.
In the second week of October, Eliza Walton who is the Coalition Director for the Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV), emailed me an invitation to the 2025 OLCV Scorecard Release Party happening on Wednesday, October 15th.
I attended this event two years previously in October 2023. It was a pleasant event for me to chat with fellow climate organizers, OLCV staff and board members, and the handful of legislators who were at that event. In 2023, OLCV Executive Director Lindsey Scholten gave awards to six legislators to honor their work fighting to pass OLCV climate and environmental priority bills in that Oregon legislative session. This year, 2025, OLCV felt that Oregon lawmakers “failed to meet the moment” to pass meaningful climate action.
When I participated in OLCV Annual Retreat I in Salem OR on October 11th, Britney VanCitters, the Political & Organizing Director for OLCV, announced that they would not be giving any awards to legislators when they planned to release their 2025 Scorecard in October. Instead, they would highlight notable volunteer leaders “who showed up this session.”
I knew that I was probably one of the volunteers who would be acknowledged. On September 9th, Kayah Ryerson, Engagement Coordinator for OLCV, and Eliza Walton emailed me to ask me if I would share my story of why climate friendly transportation policies manner to me. I wanted to write something in less than 130 words and include a head shot so I could be included in their 2025 Environmental Scorecard for the Oregon State Legislature.
I was honored that they wanted to include me in their scorecard. I am proud to be an OLCV volunteer for several years now. I immediately try to respond to all OLCV volunteer requests to give oral testimony to the legislator, be part of their lobby days, and get involved with all their local events. Thus, I did not want to miss the 2025 OLCV Scorecard Release Party to see which legislators would be there, see friends and OLCV staff, meet new people, and enjoy the complimentary hors d’oeuvre (yes, I am a total foodie!)
When I arrived at this event on October 15th, I saw about 20 people comfortably mingling with other attendees. It was held in a spacious office room of a building located in the Central Eastside neighborhood just across the Willamette River from downtown Portland. As I entered, OLCV staff welcomed me at the sign in table, I wrote my name on a name tag they provided, and I made a beeline for the appetizer table and free drinks.
I chatted with OLCV staff I know such as Britney, Kayah, April, Morgan, April and the OLCV Executive Director Lindsey Scholten. Lindsey and a couple of the OLCV Board members that I met for the first time thanked me for all my volunteering with OLCV. When I arrived at the event, OLCV had copies of their 2025 Environmental Scorecard booklet on the registration table for attendees to take. I noticed that my headshot and short story I wrote about my OLCV volunteer efforts were clear to see in the middle of page 5.
Before Lindsey and the legislators present gave brief remarks, I swapped stories with Britney and Kayah about vacations and traveling. I indulged them with my story of a very friendly sweet Russian blue breed cat that showed up on our back porch weeks earlier. My wife Tanya and I almost adopted before I was finally able to track down the true owner a few days later.
OLCV Executive Director Lindsey Scholten then gave a brief talk about the 2025 OLCV Scorecard and how the legislature passed just a few bills on climate and the environment. At the same time, she was grateful to have legislators at the party such as Representatives Ben Bowman, Mark Gamba, and Rob Nosse who scored 100% on the Scorecard for the OLCV priority bills. The legislators then took turns for a few minutes to give their thoughts.
The most striking thing said was by Rep. Mark Gamba. He openly expressed his frustration that so many good climate bills died during the 2025 Legislative session that he championed. He referred to climate policy as “The redheaded stepchild” at the Oregon Capitol the way that legislators just ignore or give very little thought to the issue. I loved his analogy because I gave oral testimony to 8 bills during the legislative session. I shared Mark’s bitterness because those climate bills that I testified died in committee and did not pass in the legislature.
After Mark finished speaking, Oregon House Majority Leader Ben Bowman complimented Rep. Gamba on his candor and fighting hard for climate policies. Bowman remarked that Gamba says the same thing in the House Democratic Caucus meetings that he boldly says in public.
As the party started to wind down, I approached Mark to thank him for what he said, especially the Redheaded Stepchild quip that I loved. Mark looked at me with my reddish blonde hair and beard. He turned red in the face and gasped, “I am so sorry, Brian! I did not mean you! I was using an old expression about the child that looks and is treated different than everyone else.”
I laughed and assured him that no apology was needed. He was spot on with his redheaded stepchild remark. In fact, I planned on using his description in the future.
Mark knows of my frequent use of public transportation. He asked if I took the bus the event. I responded that I took two buses and a MAX commuter train to attend. Mark replied, “Come on! I am giving you a ride home!”
I appreciated Mark giving me a ride home to save time from the lengthy public transit ride, saving on bus fare, and riding in his white Tesla electric car.
One month later, on November 18th, I met with my Oregon Senator Kayse Jama. I began the lobby meeting sharing the story of Mark’s metaphor. I then embarrassed him afterwards with my compliment coming from a red head and he felt so ashamed that he gave me a ride home. I then referred to myself as “The Red Headed Stepchild of the Climate Movement.”
The got a big laugh from Senator Jama, his legislative aide, and my friends who lobbied with me at this meeting. Yes, climate does still feel like the redheaded stepchild compared to all the other policies clamoring for the legislators’ attention such as affordable housing, immigration, access to healthcare, transportation, and so many other vital issues. Because of the lack of federal funds and sluggish growth of the Oregon economy, it will be hard to pass climate bills in the 2026 legislative session. Other climate organizers and I know we will have a difficult time urging legislators to pass climate bills in 2026 with so many pressing needs.
I will never give up. We need a livable planet or nothing else will matter. I often think about the quote attributed to Henry David Thoreau, “What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?”
Therefore, as a blonde with reddish highlights in my hair, a reddish beard with a touch of gray that comes with age, and as a tenacious climate organizer, I proudly will continue to call myself “The Red Headed Stepchild of the Climate Movement.”
