Brian Sims Rebuked by Penn. LGBTQ+ Advocates Who Back Straight Opponent
Brian Sims opponents for lieutenant governor ahead of the keystone state's Democratic primary on May 17.The leaders held a press conference on March 3 at the William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia.
They announced they were backing State Rep. Austin Davis in the lieutenant governor’s primary, the Washington Blade reports.In their announcement, the advocates said that Davis had the best chance of winning in the November general election and he has been a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights in the state.
Davis, a first-term senator from Western Pennsylvania, would be the state’s first Black lieutenant governor.“The move is a stunning rebuke to Sims, who has previously been endorsed by national LGBTQ groups, including the Human Rights Campaign and the LGBTQ Victory Fund,” the Blade wrote.Davis attended the press conference along with Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who the leaders also endorsed for the Pennsylvania governorship.
Shapiro is running unopposed in the primary. The Blade reports that Shapiro had endorsed Davis earlier this year and considers the senator to be his running mate in the primary.Both said they would support pro-LGBTQ+ legislation in the state.“I am humbled and grateful to have the support of so many leaders from LGBTQ+ communities from all across our commonwealth – and I am ready to continue fighting for them as Pennsylvania’s next lieutenant governor,” Davis said at the press conference.
