Brian Sims facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brian Sims
Sims in 2021
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 182nd district
In office January 1, 2013 – November 30, 2022
Preceded by	Babette Josephs
Succeeded by	Ben Waxman
Personal details
Born	Brian Kendall Sims (1978-09-16) September 16, 1978 (age 46) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Alex Drakos (m. 2024)
Education	Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (BS) Michigan State University (JD)

Brian Kendall Sims (born September 16, 1978) is an American politician, lawyer, and activist. As a member of the Democratic Party, he served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2013 to 2022. A representative is a person elected to make laws for a state.

Sims is also a lawyer and a strong supporter of LGBT civil rights. When he was elected, he became the first openly gay person to be a state lawmaker in Pennsylvania's history. In 2022, he ran for the position of lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania but came in second place in the Democratic primary election.

Early Life and School

Brian Sims was born in Washington, D.C.. His parents were both lieutenant colonels in the U.S. Army. Because of their jobs, his family moved many times, and he lived in seventeen different states. In the early 1990s, his family settled in Pennsylvania.

He went to Downingtown High School and graduated in 1997. After high school, he attended Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. At Bloomsburg, he played on the football team and was the co-captain in 2000. That same year, he told his teammates that he was gay. This was a big moment for him and for college sports.

After college, Sims went to law school at Michigan State University College of Law, where he earned a law degree in 2004. He also studied at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Career Before Politics

Before becoming a politician, Sims used his law degree to work for civil rights. He was the president of a group called Equality Pennsylvania, which works for fairness for LGBT people. He was also the chairman of the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia (GALLOP).

Sims also worked as a lawyer for the Philadelphia Bar Association. In this job, he worked with other lawyers and lawmakers on important issues. These included making sure pay is fair for everyone and protecting the environment.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

In 2011, Sims decided to run for a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He won the election in 2012 and began serving in 2013.

A Historic Election

Sims's election was historic because he was the first openly gay person elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. This was an important step for LGBT representation in the state's government.

In June 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court made a major decision about marriage rights for same-sex couples. When Sims tried to give a speech in the Pennsylvania House to support this decision, another representative blocked him from speaking.

A few months later, in October 2013, Sims and another representative, Steve McCarter, introduced a bill to make same-sex marriage legal in Pennsylvania. He also worked on a bill to ban conversion therapy, a harmful practice that tries to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Sims also encouraged U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania to support same-sex marriage, which the senator later did.

Work as a Lawmaker

As a state representative, Sims served on several committees. These included committees on Human Services, State Government, and Commerce. Committees are small groups of lawmakers who focus on specific topics.

He worked with members of both the Democratic and Republican parties. For example, he and Republican Representative Bryan Cutler introduced a bill to change how judges are chosen in Pennsylvania.

Later Political Campaigns

In 2016, Sims thought about running for the U.S. Congress but decided to run for re-election to the Pennsylvania House instead. He won his re-election campaigns in 2016, 2018, and 2020.

In 2021, Sims announced he would run for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. He competed against other Democrats for the nomination. In the primary election in May 2022, he finished in second place. The winner was Austin Davis, who went on to become lieutenant governor.

Life After Politics

After leaving the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2022, Sims continued to work in public policy. He became the Managing Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Out Leadership, an organization that works with business leaders to support LGBT equality.

In 2023, he joined the Board of Trustees of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, a group that works to prevent bullying. In 2024, he was named the CEO of Agenda PAC, a group that helps elect LGBTQ people to public office.

Personal Life

Sims married his husband, Alex Drakos, in 2024.

Electoral History

See also

• Equality Pennsylvania
• Homosexuality in American football