PA Legislature Introduces Bipartisan Nondiscrimination Act to Protect LGBT Citizens
History was made this morning as a bipartisan group of Pennsylvania legislators introduced two bills—House Bill 300 and Senate Bill 300, the Pennsylvania Nondiscrimination Act—which would put an end to discrimination throughout Pennsylvania as it affects the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. Several members of the Legislature, as well as advocates,...
Continue ReadingWATCH: State Rep. Brian Sims on MSNBC’s ‘Hardball’
Pennsylvania State Rep. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) joined MSNBC host Chris Matthews on Hardball Friday to talk about Americans’ evolution on gay rights and, particularly, gay marriage. Watch it below: Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Matthews invited Sims to speak alongside Joy-Ann Reid, managing editor of TheGrio.com,...
Continue Reading
Here’s What State Rep. Brian Sims Says About PA’s Path to Marriage Equality
Former (and perhaps, incoming) presidential candidate Hillary Clinton endorsed gay marriage earlier today—a gigantic win for the future of social rights. “I support it personally and as a matter of policy and law, embedded in a broader effort to advance equality and opportunity for LGBT Americans and all Americans,” Clinton said in the video posted...
Continue Reading
Huge Majority of Pennsylvanians Support LGBT Rights—So, Now What?
If you hang out with the right crowd, open LGBT discrimination outside of anonymous Internet threads and chatrooms isn’t part of your consciousness. But if you hang in Harrisburg, you’re all too aware that discrimination isn’t just a thing: It’s built into the stubborn laws of the state. Because Pennsylvania state law neglects a multitude of...
Continue Reading
Brian Sims Touts Bipartisanship in Anti-Bullying Bill: “No Longer a Wedge Issue”
Rep. Sims speaks in favor of the PASS Act Last week, it was reported that state Rep. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia), the first openly-gay-elected member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, had been urging his fellow House members to support House Bill 156, anti-bullying legislation known as the Pennsylvania Safe Schools (PASS) Act. “As many of you can...
Continue Reading
Brian Sims Calls State Rep. Mike Fleck’s Coming-Out A ‘Huge Opportunity’ for PA’s LGBT Population
State Rep. Mike Fleck, a Republican in Central Pennyslvania, told the Huntingdon Daily News this weekend that he is gay. The news makes him not just Pennsylvania’s first openly gay lawmaker (with Philadelphia state Rep.-elect Brian Sims set to become the second), but also the only openly gay elected Republican state Legislator in the entire United States. This...
Continue Reading
Update: Rep. Babette Josephs Concedes Race
While most believed the race for Pennsylvania’s 182nd District had ended Tuesday night, the Babette Josephs campaign was still counting votes, believing there was a chance Sims’ 226-vote lead could have been overturned after all votes, including absentee ballots, were counted — and, you know, they’d analyzed all the hanging chads. But it wasn’t...
Continue Reading
Brian Sims Makes The Advocate’s ’40 Under 40’
Brian Sims As if winning Tuesday’s primary in Pennsylvania’s 182nd District wasn’t enough, Brian Sims, who will become Pennsylvania’s first openly-gay Pennsylvania General Assembly member, has made The Advocate’s ’40 Under 40’ list. “The son of two retired Army lieutenant colonels, Sims is widely credited with turning around Equality Pennsylvania,...
Continue Reading
Top 10 Rep. Babette Josephs Quotes, 2011-2012
Since Gov. Tom Corbett’s election—and especially over the past year—our reporting has repeatedly led us to Capitol issues in Philadelphia. And I’ve spoken with a ton [approximate number] of Philly legislators to figure out what, exactly, the Republicans leadership’s plan for our city was. Of those legislators, State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-182)...
Continue Reading
Committee of Seventy: Voter Claims Babette Josephs Is Campaigning Inside Polling Place
As Philadelphia Weekly has been telling you about since forever, there is a tough race going on between State Rep. Babette Josephs and challenger Brian Sims in the 182nd District. Earlier Today, the Committee of Seventy sent out their Election Day report with complaints they’ve been receiving. One of which was about Josephs possibly violating campaign rules. “A...
Continue Reading
