Brian Sims Named to The Advocate‘s 40 Under 40 List

Brian Sims

State Representative Brian Sims has been named to The Advocate‘s “40 Under 40” list for his advocacy, and not just of LGBT rights: The magazine cited Sims for his fight to support female reproductive rights and pay equity.

Sims, who is also running for the U.S. House, was awarded the “Champion of Choice” award from NARAL, a pro-choice organization, and has been a long-time supporter of Planned Parenthood. He told The Advocate that “not only do LGBT rights and women’s rights go hand in hand, I feel similarly about racial and ethnic justice issues. This is about equality in a larger sense, but it’s also about to what degree do you believe the government should have control of your life.”

His citation in the magazine also referenced his advocacy against anti-abortion legislation that “restricted insurance coverage for abortions.” Sims told the magazine, “For all the fighting that I do for LGBT equality, I never have to question the sanctity of my own body…This colleague of mine, the first time she took to the House floor to advocate [against this bill] she didn’t get the opportunity just on behalf of her own constituents, she had to do it on behalf of her own physical body.”

You can read the entire article here.