Meet Rep. Brian Sims: Philly's Brains and Brawn With a Cause

[William769]

Pennsylvania's first openly gay state representative — who's also a former NCAA football captain and a lawyer — weighs in on being an out athlete, homophobic Russia's hosting of the Winter Olympics, and serving in the only state in the Northeast without relationship recognition for same-sex couples.

As an attorney and longtime outspoken advocate for LGBT equality, Philadephia's Rep. Brian Sims knows the right thing to do is not always accompanied by the right to do it. While trying to speak on the Pennsylvania House floor about the Supreme Court's decision to strike down section 3 of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act in June, the gay state representative found himself silenced by a procedural move.

As the former captain of an NCAA Division II championship football team at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania, the 35-year-old Sims is not used to getting sidelined. A true believer in the judicial system, he continues to pursue LGBT rights in the Keystone State, an effort that extends far beyond marriage recognition. The fiery Democrat took time out of his active political schedule to discuss gay athletes, the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and why it’s hard to keep a good man down.

The Advocate: Brian, you came out to your team after a Division II national championship. What was the catalyst for the timing?
Brian Sims: The truth is that the catalyst was them: the team. I’m very fond of telling people my teammates came out to me, I didn’t really come out to them.

How does a team come out to its closeted captain?
I was visiting Shippensburg University — one of our sister schools, [and] one of our rivals — with members of my team. While there, the quarterback pulled me aside and asked if I was gay. I told him that I was! We had a long drive home with a couple of other guys from the team. [My teammates were] curious, and the whole time they sort of peppered me with a ton of questions — all good, all respectful.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/2013/08/30/meet-rep-brian-sims-phillys-brains-and-brawn-cause

[theHandpuppet]

1. Interesting interview

First of all, where can we get these?
"This year Nike unveiled its #BeTrue line in celebration of LGBT pride, and the NFL Players Association followed suit, offering Pride T-shirts with the names of LGBT-supportive players on the back."

Second, anyone have insight on why Pennsylvania is so damned uptight compared to all its other neighbors in the NE?

[FreeState]

2. here is the Be True merchandise

http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/pw/betrue-collection/cfp

I have no idea why Pennsylvania is so damned uptight, Im guessing its from its southern neighbors

[MadrasT]

3. Except for the southeast corner around Philly

and perhaps a liberal bubble around Pittsburgh, most of the rest of PA is conservative, bible thumping, and backwards.

James Carville once said PA is basically Philadelphia on one end, Pittsburgh on the other end, and Alabama in the middle.

[theHandpuppet]

5. Must be the part some folks refer to as "Pennsyltucky"

Odd since PA is bordered by so many other, more liberal states. My partner and I have taken some drives up through the rural areas around Gettysburg and I have to say, of all the places I've ever visited, rural PA is the whitest place I've ever seen. The only minorities I've even glimpsed are farm workers who are clustered in the worst areas of the small towns. Rather creepy, to be perfectly honest. I had always expected a much more diverse demographic.

[MadrasT]

4. A beacon of hope in Harrisburg

Amazing.