30 Years, 30 Stories: join us in celebrating the 30th anniversary of Out100 with our Voices essays, featuring powerful personal narratives from past honorees that have shaped the LGBTQ+ community. Unlock the Out100 Vault to explore additional stories and reflect on three decades of progress and resilience.

This month's Democratic National Convention featured electrifying, inspiring, and engaging speakers. But the third day was the most impactful to me—when LGBTQ+ rights were front and center on that stage, with Human Rights Campaign's Kelley Robinson affirming at the podium, "Equality without exception. Joy without exception. And when we fight, we win."

It's a fight Brian Sims knows too well. As the first out gay Pennsylvania state legislator, Brian has never shied away from advocating for others.

"It's busy times," Brian says with a chuckle, a life that includes spending time with his dog and fiancé. But being busy is nothing new for Brian. As the first openly gay man elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Sims has always been at the forefront of the fight for equality. "When I joined the legislature, I knew I wanted to pursue advancing LGBTQ+ rights and civil through allyship," he reflects. And this wasn't just a vague concept for him – it was a strategy rooted in action.

Brian's approach to allyship was about more than just standing in solidarity but actively taking on the fights of others as his own. "I wasn't going to wait for the women in the House to stand up every time sexist legislation was introduced. I could stand up and say something," he explains. "And I wasn't going to wait for my colleagues of color to have to use their political capital talking about their experiences. I could do that." This early commitment to being a vocal ally defined his first term and set the tone for how he would approach his role as a legislator.

This dedication and historic win in Pennsylvania led to Brian being recognized as an Out100 honoree in 2013. However, for Brian, this recognition was more than just a personal achievement; it was a reminder of the broader impact of his work. "Being nominated and receiving the recognition reminded me that this work is critically important and that it needed to be happy in other places," he says.

But with the visibility and recognition came challenges.

Brian talks candidly about the backlash he faced, particularly from his conservative colleagues, who saw him as an easy target. "I was often the scapegoat for equality, the scapegoat for civil rights," he recalls. The public pressure was so intense that Brian wore a bulletproof vest to and from his office in his final years as a legislator. "It was terrifying, going online, trying to figure out where to get one," he recalls.

The vest, a stark symbol of the threats he faced, now sits in his fiancé's parents' attic – a haunting reminder of the risks of being a visible advocate for change.

Brian's commitment to representation and visibility has only deepened despite these challenges. Over the years, he's learned that being an out legislator wasn't enough.

It's about being out in all aspects of life.

"People needed to see me being out. They needed to see me with my partners," he says. He recalled the importance of attending Pride events and including his partner in campaign ads, even when advised against it. "I knew I could push that boundary."

Today, Brian continues to fight for LGBTQ+ rights, though his focus has shifted to national advocacy. He now works as a consultant with companies, candidates, and politicians. Sims also does work with Agenda PAC, which targets the anti-LGBTQ+ legislators in America. "We're working across the country to highlight these people's terrible agendas," he says. He's also involved with Drag PAC, an initiative where some of the U.S.'s most famous drag artists use their platforms to mobilize voters against anti-trans and anti-drag legislation.

Brian's journey from state legislator to national advocate has been marked by personal growth and professional milestones. But I couldn't help myself and asked if there were considerations for a run for Congress.

"My energies are best spent trying to find, train, and help fund those that are running for Congress," he said with a smile.

As Out100 marks its 30th anniversary, Brian reflects on what it means to be part of this group of LGBTQ+ changemakers. "It is a poignant reminder that the community that I most align with, that I most identify with, is a massively diverse community," he says.

For Brian, this diversity is the community's greatest strength and the key to achieving full equality.