in at a time that was very controversial and took an enormous amount of heat from the gay community because of my endorsement of him. I take a lot of pride in being able to change a very conservative man's opinion of gays and lesbians." Post-politics Since 1999, Carpenter has been Executive Director of Manufactured Housing Communities of Oregon. He was president of the Oregon Small Business Coalition between 2012 and 2014. See also List of the first LGBT holders of political offices in the United States References 20th-century American politicians 1962 births Living people LGBT state legislators in Oregon Republican Party members of the Oregon House of Representatives People from Washington County, Oregon Politicians from Rochester, New York University of Rochester alumni Gay politicians 21st-century LGBT people