Brian Sims

Brian Kendall Sims (born September 16, 1978)[1] is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 182nd district. Elected in 2012, Sims is also a lawyer and activist on LGBT civil rights.[2] Sims is the first openly gay elected state legislator in Pennsylvania history.[3] He won reelection on November 6, 2018.[4]

Brian Sims
Sims speaking to reporters in 2017
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 182nd district
Assumed office
December 1, 2012
Preceded byBabette Josephs
Personal details
Born
Brian Kendall Sims

(1978-09-16) September 16, 1978
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationBloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (BS)
Michigan State University (JD)

Early life and education

Sims was born in Washington, D.C., the son of two Army Lieutenant Colonels of Irish descent.[5][6] Sims was raised in the Catholic Church but stopped attending church at the age of 16.[5] Sims lived in seventeen states before settling in Pennsylvania in the early 1990s.[7] He graduated Downingtown High School in Downingtown, Pennsylvania in 1997.[8] He later completed his undergraduate studies at Bloomsburg University, in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania in 2001. In 2000, Sims was the co-captain of the Bloomsburg University football team, and was recognized as a scholar athlete.[9] During the 2000 season, the longest season in the Division II school's history, Sims came out as gay to his teammates.[10] In doing so, the regional All-American and team captain became the only openly gay college football captain in NCAA history.[10]

In 2004, Sims earned a J.D. Degree in International and Comparative law at the Michigan State University School of Law.[1] In 2013, Sims completed Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow.

Activism

Sims served as the President of Equality Pennsylvania, and as the Chairman of the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia (GALLOP), until he stepped down from both positions in 2011. In 2009, Sims joined the faculty of the Center for Progressive Leadership and the National Campaign Board of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. He was selected as one of the Top 40 LGBT Attorneys Under 40 in the United States by the National LGBT Bar Association in 2010.[11]

Planned Parenthood confrontation

Sims received attention in 2019 for videos he posted to social media confronting people protesting outside of a Planned Parenthood facility in Philadelphia.[12][13] In April of that year, Sims offered $100 to anyone who could dox three protesters.[14][12][13] A few weeks later, in May, Sims posted another eight-minute video of himself confronting a woman who was protesting by praying with a rosary outside the same facility.[13] He suggested it was unchristian and racist to "shame" people engaging in a lawful activity.[14] He encouraged his social media followers to dox her and protest outside her house.[14][12][15][13] Sims also criticized Catholicism by referring to its record on child molestation.[14]

Following the incidents, more than one thousand anti-abortion protesters rallied outside the facility, with many calling for Sims' resignation.[16] He responded to calls for an apology or that he resign by calling critics bigoted, sexist, and misogynistic "Bible Bullies".[17][18] Sims admitted to being "aggressive" in his confrontation.[14]

Career

Before assuming public office, Sims served as staff counsel for policy and planning at the Philadelphia Bar Association.[19] During his time at the Bar Association, Sims worked with attorneys, legislators and community organizations on issues ranging from gender and pay inequity to environmental regulation.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

In 2011, Sims announced his intentions to run for representative of the 182nd Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.[7][20] Sims defeated Babette Josephs, a 28-year incumbent, in the 2012 Democratic primary.[21] He did not face a Republican challenger in the November general election and was elected.

Sims was the first openly gay person elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[22] Although he was not sworn in until January 1, 2013, because Pennsylvania state representatives' term of service and legislative duties officially begin on the first day of December following their election,[23] Sims shares the designation of being its first openly gay member with Rep. Mike Fleck (R–Huntingdon), who came out in a newspaper article published later that day.[24]

In June 2013, after the Defense of Marriage Act had been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, Sims tried to make a speech in the Pennsylvania House supporting the decision, but was blocked by Daryl Metcalfe, among others, who called Sims' comments "open rebellion against God’s law."[25]

Sims made national news on October 3, 2013, when he and fellow Democratic Rep. Steve McCarter introduced legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania.[26] Sims has also introduced a bill with fellow Democratic State Representative Erin Molchany to help reduce and eliminate the gender gap in rate of pay as well as legislation to ban the practice of conversion therapy with Rep. Gerald Mullery.[27][28]

Sims has also made efforts to work with federal legislators on issues of LGBT civil rights.[29] On March 28, 2013, Sims penned an open letter to U.S. Senator and fellow Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey Jr. urging him to come out publicly in support of same-sex marriage.[30] This, combined with many other calls, ultimately resulted in the senator voicing his support for the measure.[31] Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) also chose to vote for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the U.S. Senate after Sims and a number of other activists wrote to him on the matter.[32][33]

On November 11, 2013, Sims teamed with Republican State Representative Bryan Cutler to introduce a bill to replace Pennsylvania's system of electing judges with a merit-based system, which did not receive debate in the PA House.[34]

Sims currently serves of the House Commerce, Game and Fish, Human Services, State Government, and Tourism and Recreation Committees. Sims serves as Democratic Chair of the Human Services Subcommittee on Mental Health.[35]

Sims has served as the prime sponsor of 68 bills or resolutions, of these, one bill has progressed to be debated on the house floor, and nine resolutions have been passed.[36][37][38][39]

After The New York Times tweeted a cartoon portraying Trump and Putin as a gay couple, Sims said it's time to stop the homophobic jokes.[40]

Congressional run

In the 2016 elections, Sims was briefly a candidate for Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district, but opted to run for re-election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives instead. Sims was challenged by Lou Lanni, Marni Snyder, and Ben Waxman in the Democratic primary, defeating all three.[41] Sims did not face a Republican challenger in the November 2016 general election.

See also

References
  1. "BRIAN K. SIMS". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Archived from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  2. "The Center For Progressive Leadership. Retrieved 2011-12-5". Progressiveleaders.org. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  3. Wing, Nicholas (April 26, 2012). "Pennsylvania Set To Elect First Openly Gay State Lawmaker". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  4. Mosbergen, Dominique (November 7, 2018). "LGBTQ Candidates Record Historic Midterm Wins In Rainbow Wave". HuffPost. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  5. "Gay and nonreligious in a Republican state, Rep. Brian Sims puts his faith in humanity - Religion News Service". September 10, 2014. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  6. "Family Portrait Brian Sims". The Philadelphia Gay News. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  7. "Sims to challenge Babette Josephs in 182nd Dist". The Philadelphia Gay News. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  8. "Representative Brian Sims - PA House of Representatives". PA House of Representatives. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  9. Zeigler, Cyd (August 24, 2011). "Brian Sims tells his story nine years later". Outsports.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  10. "Former college football captain was openly gay". Outsports.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  11. "Sims For Pennsylvania: About Brian Sims". Sims4pa.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  12. Gstalter, Morgan (May 8, 2019). "Pennsylvania state lawmaker responds to backlash: 'I will do better'". The Hill. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  13. Argos, Greg (May 8, 2019). "Mother Of Teens State Rep. Brian Sims Confronted At Planned Parenthood Says She's Concerned For Family's Safety". 3 CBS Philly. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  14. Cummings, William (May 9, 2019). "Philadelphia Archbishop slams Pennsylvania lawmaker who confronted abortion protesters". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  15. Fiorillo, Victor (May 6, 2019). "Brian Sims Berates "Old White Lady" Protesting at Philly Planned Parenthood". Philadelphia. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  16. "'We Will Not Back Down To Bullies': Anti-Abortion Rally Outside Philadelphia Planned Parenthood Draws Large Crowd". CBS3 Philly. May 10, 2019. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  17. Palmer, Ewan (May 7, 2019). "Rep. Brian Sims Confronts Pro-Life Protesters at Planned Parenthood Clinic: 'What You're Doing Here is Disgusting'". Newsweek. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  18. Gstalter, Morgan (May 7, 2019). "Pennsylvania lawmaker offers $100 to anyone identifying anti-abortion protesters". The Hill. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  19. "Rep. Brian K. Sims' Home Page". Pahouse.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  20. "Brian Sims announces candidacy for Pennsylvania's 182nd House District". Sims4pa.com. September 8, 2011. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  21. "Brian Sims breaks the mold, unseats a long-time incumbent — NewsWorks". Newsworks.org. April 24, 2012. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  22. "Gay Politics — Pennsylvania to get first openly gay state legislator". Gaypolitics.com. April 24, 2012. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  23. Pennsylvania Constitution, Article II, Section 2 http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Constitution.html Archived August 6, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
  24. "Republican State Rep. Mike Fleck: I'm Gay". Politicspa.com. 2012. Archived from the original on October 24, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  25. Reilly, Mollie (June 27, 2013). "Brian Sims, Pennsylvania Lawmaker, Silenced On DOMA By Colleagues Citing 'God's Law'". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  26. Artavia, David (June 27, 2013). "Rep. Brian Sims to Introduce Marriage Bill in Pennsylvania". Advocate.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  27. "Bill Information - House Bill 1811; Regular Session 2013-2014 - PA General Assembly". Legis.state.pa.us. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  28. "House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda - PA House of Representatives". Legis.state.pa.us. November 25, 2013. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  29. Jonathan Tamari. "Gay PA Rep. praises Toomey, Casey". Philly.com. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  30. Sims, Brian (March 28, 2013). "The Time Is Now: An Open Letter to a U.S. Senator". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  31. Colby Itkowitz, Call Washington Bureau (April 1, 2013). "Bob Casey support for gay marriage - Morning Call". Articles.mcall.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  32. Siddiqui, Sabrina (November 1, 2013). "Openly Gay Lawmaker Calls On Pat Toomey To Back ENDA". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  33. "Toomey Votes For ENDA". PoliticsPA. November 7, 2013. Archived from the original on November 26, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  34. "On its merits: A new bill offers sense on judicial elections - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. November 18, 2013. Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  35. Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Representative Brian Sims". Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  36. Center, Legislative Data Processing. "Bills by Sponsor, Brian Sims, Session of 2013".
  37. Center, Legislative Data Processing. "Bills by Sponsor, Brian Sims, Session of 2015".
  38. Center, Legislative Data Processing. "Bills by Sponsor, Brian Sims, Session of 2017".
  39. Center, Legislative Data Processing. "Bills by Sponsor, Brian Sims, Session of 2019".
  40. "New York Times offends with 'homophobic' cartoon depicting Trump, Putin as lovers". Fox News. July 17, 2018. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  41. "Pennsylvania - Summary Vote Results". Associated Press. April 26, 2016. Archived from the original on April 30, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
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