Brian Sims to Become Pennsylvania's First Out Gay State Lawmaker After Primary Victory
Brian Sims has won his primary in Pennsylvania and will be the state's first openly gay lawmaker, facing no Republican opposition in a heavily Democratic district.
The Victory Fund reports:
Sims defeated a longtime incumbent to capture the Democratic nomination in the heavily Democratic District 182, and will face no Republican opponent this November.
“Tonight we’re celebrating a historic victory for Pennsylvania and for Brian,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, which endorsed Sims. ”LGBT Pennsylvanians will finally have a voice in their state legislature, and what a strong and unyielding voice it will be. We are thrilled for Brian, who ran a remarkable campaign.”
Sims, a former member of the Victory Campaign Board, is a distinguished policy attorney and civil rights advocate from Center City Philadelphia. The former Staff Counsel for Policy and Planning at the Philadelphia Bar Association, he recently stepped down as the President of the Board of Directors of Equality Pennsylvania.
In Spring 2009, Outsports first made us aware of Sims in a story they published about Sims coming out to his football team and subsequently leading them to a Division II National Championship game. He is still the only former NCAA football captain to have ever come out.
Congrats Brian!
His fellow Pennsylvanian, Rick Santorum, must be rolling in his grave.
Posted by: Craig | Apr 25, 2012 1:55:22 PM
Babette Josephs has represented the 182 Pa House District for 27 years. She is the co-founder of the LGBT cacus and convener of the women's cacus. She is often referred to as a feisty rabble-rouser for progressive issues such as LGBT civil rights and Women's reproductive freedom. Of all the Pa House Districts in the Phila area that Brian Sims could have run in, he chose the 182nd which has a large gay population and defeated a staunch ally of progressive causes. Pardon me if I don't dance on the political grave of our staunchest ally. And take note of the message it sends to other would be straight allies. Don't spend your political capital on gay folks, they will drop you like a hot potato when one of their own wants the job.
Posted by: jack | Apr 25, 2012 2:09:45 PM
@Jack
Ms. Joseph was a gay ally but NEVER passed anything in her time as a state Rep. Mr. Sims did not run on the gay platform rather the platform for change.
Posted by: prisle | Apr 25, 2012 2:10:39 PM
@Prisle That is not true. If you would be interested in her legislative accomplishments check out: pahouse.com/josephs/legislative-accomplishments. There are 203 members of the Pa House. She is the senior most woman legislator in Pa. We have lost a champion of progressive causes.
Posted by: jack | Apr 25, 2012 2:41:34 PM
Brian Sims thought so highly of Babette Josephs that just two years ago he was her campaigh treasurer.
Posted by: jack | Apr 25, 2012 2:45:02 PM
I don't know anything about this guy other than that he has accomplished something wonderful, and he is hannnnnnnndsome!
Way to go, Brian!
Posted by: jim | Apr 25, 2012 3:10:19 PM
@Jim: He hasn't accomplished something "wonderful" unless you think it is wonderful to defeat the leading champion of LGBT and progressive causes in the Pa House of Representatives. He is a political opportunist who worked for Babette just two years ago as her campaign treasurer, then moved into the 182 Pa House district and campaigned heavily in this the most heavily gay district in Pa and defeated our leading champion of LGBT, feminist and progressive causes. I understand that an ex jock may turn you on but this Jewish grandmother was our champion.And as i keep saying, this tells other would be straight allies not to spend their political capital in support of LGBT issues because they will turn on you when one of their own wants the job.
Posted by: jack | Apr 25, 2012 4:51:01 PM
Wow jack
You're really into this one. Nothing you can do about it. I'm sure both sides played by the rules. Who knows maybe he'll be good.
Posted by: GeorgeM | Apr 25, 2012 8:29:47 PM
Rick, I would recommend this book to you:
WHY ARE FAGGOTS SO AFRAID OF FAGGOTS?:
Flaming Challenges to Masculinity, Objectification, and the Desire to Conform
http://www.mattildabernsteinsycamore.com/faggotsafraid.html
Posted by: aabondy | Apr 26, 2012 9:49:24 PM
EVERYONE DON'T WORRY ABOUT JACK's COMMENTS ON HERE! His real name is Christopher Pinto and he pulled this crap all throughout the election as well. He spent most of the election writing some pretty hateful and entirely innacuate commentaries about Mr. Sims and in the end, he was panned in the gay community for doing it. There are always going to be haters out there, it's just helpful when they're also liars, as Mr. Pinto is. Again, his name is Chris Pinto, not "Jack."
Nice try, Chris.
Posted by: Janine | Apr 27, 2012 12:34:37 PM