Rep. Diego Hernandez, D-Portland, said Saturday he has called for an inquiry into rumors swirling in Capitol circles that he ranked female lobbyists based on their appearances.

Hernandez flatly denied the rumors in a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive and said he has never talked about lawmakers, lobbyists or staff members in a demeaning or inappropriate way.

"Let me be as perfectly clear as I can be: I categorically and emphatically state that I have never engaged in any ranking of lobbyists based on physical attributes," Hernandez said.

Hernandez, a freshman lawmaker who at 29 is the Legislature's youngest member, said that for weeks the lobbyist list rumors have made him the "target of harassment and civil rights violations."

"This is so deeply concerning that I asked for a fact-finding inquiry to be conducted into the rumors being spread so that the truth can come out -- including the truth about who's responsible," Hernandez said. "I believe that my civil rights have been violated by the spread of these vicious lies, and that question has become part of the inquiry. I believe that this whisper campaign against me is an attempt by some to intimidate me, and I won't let that stand."

The inquiry will be done by the Legislature's lawyers and human resources officials, said Scott Moore, spokesman for the House Democratic Caucus.

In a statement issued through Moore, House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson, D-Portland, said she has met with Hernandez "to inform him that there were wild rumors being spread about him," but did not say when the meeting took place.

Williamson said: "Let's be clear, this is a completely groundless whisper campaign against Diego. This is beneath the integrity of this institution."

House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, declined to comment, but said through spokeswoman Lindsey O'Brien that she is aware of the lobbyist list rumors and the inquiry.

Hernandez is seen as having upward mobility among the new crop of House Democrats. He hasn't shied away from speaking his mind and showing it with his vote: He voted against the state schools budget last week, saying it didn't provide enough funding. Along with being a lawmaker, Hernandez sits on the Reynolds School District board and has worked as a teacher, social worker and at non-profits.

"People who know me and know what I've dedicated my life to know how preposterous these allegations are," Hernandez said in his statement. "I have dedicated my life to social justice and dismantling patriarchy and sexism."

He declined to comment further, saying he wants to protect the integrity of the Legislature's inquiry.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

503-221-8209; @GordonRFriedman