From Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims Facebook page:
“Today is the last day of the Nike #LGBTSportsSummit and it’s an important one.
“Nike is committing considerable resources to combatting homophobia and promoting respect and diversity for all athletes from k-12, college and the pros and today we’ve got to figure out what projects we can develop with their support!”
Chris Matthews of MSNBC’s Hardball reported on yesterday’s ruling in Pennsylvania and the large number of gay marriage bans being overturned across the country. NBC’s Justice correspondent Pete Williams talks with Matthews about when a case might reach the Supreme Court.
Matthews was then joined by Prop. 8 attorney Ted Boutros and gay Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims to continue the discussion.
“As President Obama said in the State of the Union, when women succeed, America succeeds! As a first-term representative, I am humbled and honored to receive this national award for my defense of women’s rights, and I will continue to stand up for those rights and oppose the attacks on them. Women’s rights are human rights,” Sims said.
Sims is strongly pro-choice and attracted national acclaim for his impassioned defense of women’s rights during an April 2013 state House debate on legislation that restricts a woman’s right to an abortion and access to health care by putting government restrictions on private insurance companies and how women can spend their own money.
Though I’ve had the opportunity to attend some pretty kick-ass events, being recognized during this NARAL dinner has to be at the top of my list.
First, I want to say how humbled I am to be recognized with women and organizations that I have tremendous respect for: I’ll be joining Dolores Huerta (President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation), Martha Shane & Lana Wilson (Directors of “After Tiller”) and Representatives from Young Women United (Community Organizing by and for Young Women of Color in Albuquerque, NM).
Wow. I’m still in shock about this, and again, I’m humbled and excited to get to meet some of my (s)heroes from all across the country who are fighting for women’s health and a woman’s right to choose.
Gov. Tom Corbett, a conservative Republican who has opposed LGBT rights in the past – most notably marriage equality -says he is ready to support employment protections for gays and lesbians in the workplace, he told the Philadelphia Inquirer Wednesday.
“I’ve had people come and talk to me about how they were discriminated against,” said Corbett. “The federal government has antidiscrimination laws. I believed they covered it.”
But federal law does not prohibit employers from firing, refusing to hire or promote someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Pennsylvania state law does not currently prohibit discrimination in public accommodation, housing, education, or employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. A bill that would make it illegal to fire someone for being LGBT was introduced in the state House earlier this year, but has since failed to move out of committee. Pennyslvania is also the only state in the Northeastern U.S. that has yet to embrace marriage equality.
Openly gay state Rep. Brian Sims, released this statement praising the governor’s move toward equality for all:
“I have long believed that equality is not a one-party issue,” said Sims. “We continue to see our elected officials in Pennsylvania coming out on the right side of history, and Governor Corbett is no exception to this trend. Last month, Senator Pat Toomey, also a conservative Republican, voted to advance the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the U.S. Senate, demonstrating to Americans across the country that support for LGBT civil rights and a conservative ideology are not mutually exclusive. To those conservative leaders in our government who have shied away from being vocal about non-discrimination legislation in Pennsylvania, I hope this is a green light to openly support non-discrimination legislation.”
Pennsylvania was the largest U.S. state never to elect an out LGBT legislator, until Sims changed that. A Democratic representative in the state’s General Assembly, he says his dream is simple: “Pennsylvania doesn’t have a single LGBT civil rights law, and I want to ensure we’re protecting all our citizens.”
The woofy Mr. Sims is totally deserving as he represents our community with such honor and dignity.
Brian Sims, openly gay state House Rep. in Pennsylvania, has written an open letter to US Senator Toomey (R-PA) asking for his support on the upcoming vote for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
Touching on many issues, here’s just an excerpt of the letter:
Standing up for all Americans, and against discrimination and injustice, is fundamental to who we are as a nation. While we all continue to grapple with issues of faith, morality, family and government, what is clear is that we are a people who believe in giving everyone a fair shot and a fair shake. Our laws have been incomplete, and as a result, millions of our friends, family members, neighbors and co-workers have been allowed to fall through the cracks. You have a tremendous opportunity on the horizon to fix this mistake, and to proclaim your support for a more equal nation.
Senator, I not only urge you as an openly gay man, but also as a fellow lawmaker and Pennsylvanian to vote in favor of ENDA when the legislation comes up for a vote next week, but I encourage you in the strongest terms possible to state right now, unequivocally, that you will be a co-sponsor of the bill as well.
Despite our political differences, I have always agreed with your steadfast commitment to job creation and increasing economic opportunities for the state. I also know you to be a man of respect and integrity and while I know that the fringe opposition to equality may be a difficult burden to bear at times, the citizens of Pennsylvania are clear in their overwhelming support for these types of basic, commonsense protections.
And – check out where YOUR senator stands on ENDA. And if they haven’t expressed support yet, click here to find their number and call to let them know this is an important bill that needs their support.
State lawmakers Brian Sims and Steve McCarter introduce marriage equality legislation for Pennsylvania
A new Franklin & Marshall College poll shows that 54 percent of Pennsylvania residents support marriage equality, up 2 points from a similar poll in February.
The results come the same day that state lawmakers Brian Sims and Steve McCarter introduced marriage equality legislation.
PA state Rep. Brian Sims introduces Pennsylvania Marriage Equality Act
Out gay state representative Brian Sims and fellow representative Steve McCarter today announced the introduction of H.B. 1686, the Pennsylvania Marriage Equality Act. The announcement was made at Love Park in Philadelphia:
“The majority of Pennsylvanians now support marriage equality, and that support continues to grow,” Sims said. “Neighboring states, including New York, Maryland and Delaware, have all decided to be on the right side of history and have granted equal rights to their LGBT citizens. The time has come for Pennsylvania’s legislature to stand up and let our citizens know we see them as truly equal members of society and they have the right to choose whom they marry.
“With the Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act, it became apparent that Pennsylvania cannot continue to be stuck in the past. This is a civil rights issue facing our LGBT community. Furthermore, this issue is holding back Pennsylvania’s economy. People and businesses are seeing states that have true marriage equality as more attractive to them, and they’re spending their money in those states. This lack of equality is holding us back. Where are we at in our government where you lose rights by crossing a border?”
Read the full transcript of statements by McCarter and Sims at Towleroad .
