The legislative chambers in a woke state have turned into a very vulnerable place for many lawmakers who have continuously been seen crying over personal stories and experiences. 

Democrats and Republicans, both male and female, can’t seem to hide their emotions when they step on the floor in Oregon to advocate for bills that touch their own lives. 

From painful topics like suicide, sexual abuse, depression, homelessness and more, lawmakers in the Beaver State have been delivering tearful accounts, including Rep. Annessa Hartman. 

The Democrat told Oregon Live in her three years in the state’s legislature she has grown so accustomed to crying in front of her coworkers that it doesn’t even phase her anymore. 

‘I didn’t step into this space thinking “I’m going to cry all the time”,’ Hartman revealed. 

‘I’m 37. I’m still coming out of a generation where women shouldn’t cry, especially in male-dominated spaces… and that being emotional is a weakness.’ 

While many might see shedding tears as a weakness, certain lawmakers have transformed the action into a sign of strength and vulnerability that seemingly pulls at people’s heart strings to help them better understand proposed legislation in the state. 

This session has especially been very emotional with several legislators crying on the chambers floors, at public hearings and during live streams. 

Rep. Darcey Edwards, a Republican, is seen crying while sharing an impassioned account of her searching for her son, who was once a drug addict living on the streets in Portland as a way to advocate for a new system that would allow the homeless youth population a chance to 'call your mom'

Rep. Darcey Edwards, a Republican, is seen crying while sharing an impassioned account of her searching for her son, who was once a drug addict living on the streets in Portland as a way to advocate for a new system that would allow the homeless youth population a chance to ‘call your mom’

Rep. Hai Pham, a father to two young children and son of a Vietnamese immigrant who escaped communism with is father, has gone on to cry four times over three legislative sessions

Rep. Hai Pham, a father to two young children and son of a Vietnamese immigrant who escaped communism with is father, has gone on to cry four times over three legislative sessions

For instance, Rep. Darcey Edwards shared an impassioned account of her searching for her son, who was once a drug addict living on the streets in Portland. 

The Republican chose to share her story as a way to advocate for a new system that would allow the homeless youth population a chance to ‘call your mom.’ 

Meanwhile, Rep. Dacia Grayber, openly spoke of her adult stepdaughter who committed suicide as she showed her support to recognize Youth Suicide Awareness Day. 

Last month Rep. Cyrus Javadi, another Republican, told a chamber of 50 colleagues that he was sexually abused by his babysitter as a child while advocating for victims’ rights. 

Javadi, who was 12 at the time, divulged that his mother was working three jobs when it happened. 

The now 48-year-old said he’s only confessed this to ‘maybe two people’ in the 36 years since. 

He chose to speak up during the session as the House discussed whether or not to allow sex abuse victims unlimited time to file lawsuits. 

Although he didn’t cry while he shared her personal account, Javadi told the outlet he worried people might treat and look at him differently for sharing he, a male, was victimized. 

‘There are so many trolls out there and people say a lot of mean, negative things,’ he said. 

Rep. Annessa Hartman (pictured) said during her three years in the state's legislature she has grown so accustomed to crying in front of her coworkers that it doesn't even phase her anymore

Rep. Annessa Hartman (pictured) said during her three years in the state’s legislature she has grown so accustomed to crying in front of her coworkers that it doesn’t even phase her anymore

Last month Rep. Cyrus Javadi, another Republican, told a chamber of 50 colleagues that he was sexually abused by his babysitter as a child while advocating for victims' rights

Last month Rep. Cyrus Javadi, another Republican, told a chamber of 50 colleagues that he was sexually abused by his babysitter as a child while advocating for victims’ rights

After sharing, Javadi said he encountered the opposite of what he expected, as many supported him after his testimony. 

He made it clear that his choice to share his experience was not at all done for politics.

‘Sometimes we are so worried about the next campaign or how it will look.

‘That ends up turning us into a version of who we are that’s not very authentic. And if we expect the public to trust us, then we need for them to see the full picture, not just that polished version,’ he stated. 

Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis opened up about her health issues with perimenopause as a way to urge colleagues to remove the barriers to hormonal care.

Because of her raw testimony, Davis has gone to become the ‘face of menopause’ in the state, she told the outlet. 

The shift in expressing emotion in what is supposed to be considered a professional place has been noticed by many, including Rep. Hai Pham. 

The Democrat, who has teared up on the floor, said he noticed the new trend just before he took office in 2023. 

‘I thought, “Why are these people crying on the House floor? Why are they showing all that emotion?”,’ he said. 

‘I thought, “I’m not going to be that guy.” And then when you get down here, you hear all these stories of people hurting and reaching out to you, and you try to help them, and they get to you.’ 

Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (right) opened up about her health issues with perimenopause as a way to urge colleagues to remove the barriers to hormonal care

Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (right) opened up about her health issues with perimenopause as a way to urge colleagues to remove the barriers to hormonal care

Oregon legislators appear to be following the trend that other prominent lawmakers have shared, including Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman (pictured Monday) who shared his struggle with depression during the 2022 election

Oregon legislators appear to be following the trend that other prominent lawmakers have shared, including Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman (pictured Monday) who shared his struggle with depression during the 2022 election

Pham, a father to two young children and son of a Vietnamese immigrant who escaped communism with his father, has gone on to cry four times over three legislative sessions. 

He admitted that for him it feels like his ‘dad hormones’ get to him, especially when he heard of a father who couldn’t hear his daughter call him ‘dad’ because he couldn’t afford new hearing aids to replace his broken ones. 

When looking back at the past, Pham knows crying is not at all the norm that legislators follow while at work, but still, he finds it refreshing.  

‘Back in the old days, people would say that’s a vulnerability. But I think now it’s superhero strength,’ the 46-year-old said. 

Oregon legislators appear to be following the trend that other prominent lawmakers have shared, including Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman and Washington state Rep. Debra Lekanoff. 

Fetterman revealed his struggle with depression during the 2022 election. 

Despite this, he has gone on to hit out at those who he says have treated him differently since. 

Meanwhile, Leakanoff called for better access to addiction treatment after announcing that she was a few months into recovery for substance abuse in 2024. 

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