Brian Sims

But over the next couple of days, because everyone got to see that overt discrimination happen against one of their own colleagues, I decided to go out and meet as many of my Republican colleagues as I could. They all knew exactly who I was and what was going on in that moment. And I didn't raise it. I would just go, hi, I'm brand new. I'm Brian. It's nice to meet you.

But over the next couple of days, because everyone got to see that overt discrimination happen against one of their own colleagues, I decided to go out and meet as many of my Republican colleagues as I could. They all knew exactly who I was and what was going on in that moment. And I didn't raise it. I would just go, hi, I'm brand new. I'm Brian. It's nice to meet you.

Now, it wasn't often nice to meet them. And I would learn as I served with all of them that 100% of them voted against LGBTQ equality every single time. It's a misnomer that there are some people who dislike us and some don't, but 100% of them voted against us. But at the time, I just wanted them to meet me.

Now, it wasn't often nice to meet them. And I would learn as I served with all of them that 100% of them voted against LGBTQ equality every single time. It's a misnomer that there are some people who dislike us and some don't, but 100% of them voted against us. But at the time, I just wanted them to meet me.

And I wanted them to meet me in the context of, look, I'm being discriminated against by one of your own colleagues and one of mine, but we can still talk and meet each other.

And I wanted them to meet me in the context of, look, I'm being discriminated against by one of your own colleagues and one of mine, but we can still talk and meet each other.

There is not common ground existing right now in a lot of political environments, including the one that I was in. The background is that the state that I was in had a majority of Democrats, so a majority of people that had political views like mine.

There is not common ground existing right now in a lot of political environments, including the one that I was in. The background is that the state that I was in had a majority of Democrats, so a majority of people that had political views like mine.

But Republicans in control of the state's government 30 years ago had set up a system where they would stay in control even though they no longer had the majority. And one of the things that you do when you falsely are maintaining control of a democracy is you do not allow that democracy to flourish. And so in my case, I mentioned it earlier.

But Republicans in control of the state's government 30 years ago had set up a system where they would stay in control even though they no longer had the majority. And one of the things that you do when you falsely are maintaining control of a democracy is you do not allow that democracy to flourish. And so in my case, I mentioned it earlier.

Yes, I have many Republican colleagues that I had dinner with, that I co-sponsored bills with, that I introduced ideas with. But when it came down to the moments where it mattered most, our actual votes to allow something to become law or not, 100% of them voted against every single LGBTQ equality bill that came up in 10 years. And so you decide, can I share a dinner table with this person?

Yes, I have many Republican colleagues that I had dinner with, that I co-sponsored bills with, that I introduced ideas with. But when it came down to the moments where it mattered most, our actual votes to allow something to become law or not, 100% of them voted against every single LGBTQ equality bill that came up in 10 years. And so you decide, can I share a dinner table with this person?

I can under lots of circumstances. Can I share a cab with this person? Do I hold a door open for this person? Of course you do. Do I consider this person a friend despite these things? Absolutely not. My friends believe that women are equal. My friends don't believe that a haircut has a gender. My friends believe that I should be able to get married. Those are different.

I can under lots of circumstances. Can I share a cab with this person? Do I hold a door open for this person? Of course you do. Do I consider this person a friend despite these things? Absolutely not. My friends believe that women are equal. My friends don't believe that a haircut has a gender. My friends believe that I should be able to get married. Those are different.

And no, I'm disappointed to say that while there are a lot of my Republican colleagues that I would speak well of and can tell you good things about them, not a single one of them cared in even the basics about me enough to consider me a friend.

And no, I'm disappointed to say that while there are a lot of my Republican colleagues that I would speak well of and can tell you good things about them, not a single one of them cared in even the basics about me enough to consider me a friend.

Within my own political party, all 10 years that I was there, I was essentially on one side of the policies of my own political party. And my party was often on the other side. I'm a significantly more liberal, a more progressive person than the Democratic Party was that I served in. And so there was lots of opportunities with people who I casually agreed with.

Within my own political party, all 10 years that I was there, I was essentially on one side of the policies of my own political party. And my party was often on the other side. I'm a significantly more liberal, a more progressive person than the Democratic Party was that I served in. And so there was lots of opportunities with people who I casually agreed with.

to find more opportunities to agree with. And I can point to an entire 10-year history of having Democratic colleagues that we didn't always get along, but we carved out friendships and we carved out collaboration. And so there was tons of that.

to find more opportunities to agree with. And I can point to an entire 10-year history of having Democratic colleagues that we didn't always get along, but we carved out friendships and we carved out collaboration. And so there was tons of that.