Brian Sims Strips Down And Speaks Out: Why Queer Visibility Still Matters
The former Pennsylvania state lawmaker and current CEO of Agenda PAC, a political action committee focused on supporting pro-LGBTQIA+ candidates, posted a series of striking portraits shot by celebrity photographer Andrés Oyuela. In the images, Sims appears shirtless and confidently posed in Calvin Klein underwear, equal parts raw and relaxed.
Shot in Brooklyn earlier this year, Sims says the opportunity to work with Oyuela was unexpected, but too good to pass up. “I hydrated, I moisturised, and then we took these photos,” he told Out. “I’m posting them during Pride because queer joy is political and irreverent.”
He’s loud. He’s proud. He’s shirtless!
The photos, both colour and black-and-white, are more than just a thirst trap. For Sims, they’re about being “out, visible, and confident” in a time when LGBTQIA+ rights remain under threat in the United States.
Visibility, he says, is resistance.
“We’re all under attack every day,” he told Out. “Let’s be loud. Let’s be proud.”
Sims is no stranger to making a statement. Back in January, he made headlines after marrying his partner, Alex Drakos. The couple expedited their ceremony ahead of the second inauguration of President Donald Trump, fearing legal setbacks to LGBTQIA+ rights, including marriage equality.
A wedding, a warning, and a call to action
“If you’re considering [marriage], you should too,” Sims told Out. “These are very treacherous times… and having the protections of the law is an assurance everyone deserves.”
He urged other queer couples not to wait. Use the rights while we still have them. And keep fighting to protect them.
Ten years on, marriage equality still needs defending
June 26 marks a decade since Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court ruling that legalised same-sex marriage in the US. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come — and how quickly progress can unravel.
Sims’ portraits might look like a celebration of Pride, and they are. But they’re also a message: queer joy is radical. Rights can be taken away. And showing up, confidently and publicly, still matters.
