Our Representative, Brian Sims

  Our Representative: Brian Sims

What do you think about when you think of those who represent our needs as American citizens? Most people would answer a family man with two children and a smiling wife which is what every public office was at one point but once the citizens became ignored by the people who represented us we demanded a big change in who represents us as a whole. We have been sick and tired of how minority groups have been treated throughout the years so we stood up to stop the injustices of human suffering. The cookie cutter version of a representative of the people began to change as more minorities were added to public offices but the gay community was still one of the last groups to gain representation by openly gay representatives. Many states have been changing how their district are being represented including Pennsylvania. The marriage equality issue has been a roller coaster ride for both political parties but luckily the citizens of the state have a new openly gay member in the House of Representatives who will help in this time of change. His name is Brian Sims.

I had the fantastic opportunity today of having a phone interview with this admirable man who is a self-declared army brat and a proud Democrat. Brian Sims is breaking new ground in the state of Pennsylvania which had not been receptive to openly gay representatives in public office but a friend of Brian's had been elected to public office sparking a desire to represent his district as well as the gay community. Brian came out of the closet during his last semester of his last year of college and thankfully Brian had a great family support system who worried more about his safety rather than him being gay. I mentioned to Brian how I had the same kind of support system and we discussed what the difference was between those families who stand behind you as a gay person or those parents who refuse to love their gay child because of their own twisted values. The aftermath of the damage it does to a gay person who is shut out by their family is beyond repair sometimes.

Brian is single following the end of a long term relationship but does want to get married some day but as he told me it would have to be the right person for the right reasons. I think this man is a positive example of why gay people deserve to have marriage equality because he is not wanting to do it just to do it but to have his own American dream like the generations before us. If you get married, please make sure it is because you love someone and want to navigate the turbulent water of life as partners instead of just for the attention a marriage brings. People get married for the wrong reasons which is why our divorce rate is overwhelming so to all gay people: Marry for the right reasons or the struggle for this right of equality will have been a waste of time. With positive role models like Brian Sims, I think many younger gay generations will appreciate the struggle we have made to better their lives.

I asked Brian what qualities he looked for in a potential mate which is authentic individuals who are passionate about their beliefs but also manage to have fun. Yes, gentleman I repeat this intelligent and charming man is single so please do not stampede him all at once (and FYI you may want to check out his interview on Youtube to see he is also handsome). I wanted to know what Brian thought about the gay community and the opposition we face from religious fanatics who are convinced everybody is going to the bad afterlife maybe to keep the finger from being pointed at their own sinful, judgmental lives. Brian responded by saying that the religious opposition is wrong and they know they are wrong which is why we are gaining so much support. As Brian said we are at a crucial point in human history where not everybody needs to agree about the issue but we still deserve to have marriage equality.

Here is the video interview! 

Speaking with Brian Sims today reaffirmed my faith that the gay community was in for some major changes not only nationally but worldwide despite countries like Russia who are still threatening to arrest openly gay people. Their mistreatment should be a startling wake up call for the gay community to make sure nationally we have marriage equality so we can be in a position to help citizens of other nations achieve their equality as well. The wall of injustice is tumbling down section by section so lets make sure to support Brian Sims and the other openly gay individuals standing on our behalf.

Kevin Spence