Sarah Peters Explained

Sarah Peters
Party:Democratic
Office:Member of the Nevada Assembly
from the 24th district
Term Start:November 7, 2018
Predecessor:Amber Joiner
Birth Place:Silver City, Nevada, U.S.
Education:University of Nevada, Reno (BS)

Sarah Peters is an American politician and environmental engineer serving as a member of the Nevada Assembly. Peters represents the 24th district, which includes Downtown Reno, Nevada.

Early life and education

Peters was born in 1987 in Silver City, Nevada.[1] She earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno and later worked as a project manager. She was the vice-chair and secretary of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration's Reno chapter.[2]

Career

After graduating from college, Peters worked as an engineering intern. In 2015, she became a certified environmental manager.[3] Peters was elected to the Nevada Assembly, defeating three Democratic opponents in the 2018 primary, including one challenger who was supported by the Nevada Assembly Democratic caucus and marijuana industry.[4] [5] She took office on November 7, 2018 after receiving 16,000 votes and facing no challenger.[6] She stated that in the 2019 legislative session she would focus on indigenous rights, environmental issues, and healthcare.

A day after she came out publicly as pansexual, Peter she presented a bill that would require "all single-occupancy public restrooms be gender-neutral".[7] She has also introduced legislation that she describes as strengthening indigenous sovereignty rights within tribal jurisdictions.[8] She sponsored a piece of legislation which made neon the official element of Nevada and encouraged state residents to enroll in health insurance programs.[9] [10] Other bills she has co-sponsored include making "all marijuana testing data" publicly available through a searchable database, strengthening voting rights, and supported an effort which opposed the United States Air Force's acquisition of 1.1 million acres in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge for a bombing range.[11] [12] [13] She is the vice chair of the Health and Human Services committee and sits on two other committees.[14] [15] [16]

Personal

Peters is married to Matt, a Marine veteran.[17] She came out as bisexual to her family at age 16.[18] In March 2021, she came out publicly as pansexual on the floor of the Nevada Assembly as a part of a speech in support of the Nevada Equal Rights Amendment.[19] [20] [21] [22] Peters told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that at first, because she had a husband and children, she did not speak about her pansexuality, but she later changed her opinion, believing it was an opportunity to come out and support LGBTQ people.[23] [24]

Peters is one of three openly pansexual legislators in the United States, along with Mary Gonzalez of Texas and Lisa Bunker of New Hampshire.[25] Additionally, she is the first lawmaker in Nevada that identifies as pansexual.[26]

References

  1. Web site: Assemblywoman Sarah Peters. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210127195938/https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Legislator/A/Assembly/Current/24#personalCareerTab. January 27, 2021. March 30, 2021. Nevada Legislature.
  2. Web site: Iseminger. Tee. Meet Our 2018 Labor Candidates: Sarah Peters, Assembly District 24. May 31, 2018. Nevada State AFL-CIO. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210208023216/https://nv.aflcio.org/news/meet-our-2018-labor-candidates-sarah-peters-assembly-district-24. February 8, 2021. live.
  3. Web site: February 15, 2019. Freshman Orientation: Assemblywoman Sarah Peters. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108001008/https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/freshman-orientation-assemblywoman-sarah-peters. November 8, 2020. April 20, 2020. The Nevada Independent.
  4. Web site: Sarah Peters. Ballotpedia. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20181109034426/https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_Peters. November 9, 2018. live.
  5. Web site: Newcomer Wades Into Politics, Wins Crowded Reno Assembly Race. Nevada Public Radio. April 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201129132841/https://knpr.org/knpr/2018-06/newcomer-wades-politics-wins-crowded-reno-assembly-race. November 29, 2020. live.
  6. Web site: Dentzer. Bill. Lochhead. Colton. Meet the 12 freshmen joining the Nevada Legislature. February 2, 2021. Pahrump Valley Times. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210208042717/https://pvtimes.com/news/12-newcomers-join-2021-nevada-legislature-95320/. February 8, 2021. live.
  7. Peters. Sarah. Colton Lochhead and Bill Dentzer. Assemblywoman says she's pansexual in floor speech. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210329192859/https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/2021-legislature/assemblywoman-says-shes-pansexual-in-floor-speech-2315910/. March 29, 2021. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Las Vegas. March 26, 2021. live.
  8. Web site: Peters. Sarah. Seeking justice for Nevada's indigenous communities. June 5, 2019. Reno Gazette Journal. March 30, 2021. https://archive.today/20210330191024/https://www.rgj.com/story/opinion/voices/2019/06/04/seeking-justice-indigenous-communities-peters/1344491001/. March 30, 2021. live.
  9. Web site: Hutchings. Holly. Ensuring Neon's Place In Nevada History. April 23, 2019. KUNR. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20191222055550/https://www.kunr.org/post/ensuring-neons-place-nevada-history. December 22, 2019. live.
  10. Web site: Russell. Terri. Lawmakers encourage Nevadans to get insured. November 7, 2019. KOLO-TV. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210121020021/https://www.kolotv.com/content/news/Lawmakers--encourage-Nevadans-to-get-insured-564639431.html. January 21, 2021. live.
  11. Web site: Russell. Terri. Legislation seeks to curb public's access to governmental records. November 7, 2019. Las Vegas Review-Journal. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210330193154/https://www.hardrockhotel.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/legislation-seeks-to-curb-publics-access-to-governmental-records-2302943/. March 30, 2021. live.
  12. Donnelly . Patrick . December 3, 2020 . Final Defense Bill Denies Military Request to Expand Nevada Bombing Ranges . . March 30, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201207200035/https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/final-defense-bill-denies-military-request-expand-nevada-bombing-ranges-2020-12-03/ . December 7, 2020 . live.
  13. Clinch . Curtis . June 24, 2019 . Nevada Passes Sweeping Set of Pro-Equality Bills in 2019 Legislative Session . . March 30, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200904060606/https://www.hrc.org/news/nevada-passes-sweeping-set-of-pro-equality-bills-in-2019 . September 4, 2020 . live.
  14. Web site: Health and Human Services. Nevada Legislature. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210129095747/https://asm.leg.state.nv.us/committees/health-and-human-services/. January 29, 2021. live.
  15. Web site: Growth and Infrastructure. Nevada Legislature. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128140245/https://asm.leg.state.nv.us/committees/growth-and-infrastructure/. January 28, 2021. live.
  16. Web site: Ways and Means. Nevada Legislature. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210130174122/https://asm.leg.state.nv.us/committees/ways-and-means/. January 30, 2021. live.
  17. Web site: Sarah Peters for Nevada: About Sarah. February 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20201030082756/https://www.votesarahpeters.com/sarah-peters-nevada-state-assembly-district-24/. October 30, 2020. live.
  18. Web site: Sarah Peters for Nevada: Equality. February 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20201126213523/https://www.votesarahpeters.com/issues/equality-nevada-assembly-district-24/. November 26, 2020. live.
  19. Web site: Nevada Assemblywoman Sarah Peters Announces She is Pansexual. March 27, 2021. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210327211102/https://www.ktvn.com/story/43563457/nevada-assemblywoman-sarah-peters-announces-she-is-pansexual. KVTN. March 27, 2021. live.
  20. Web site: Milton. Josh. Nevada lawmaker comes out as pansexual in powerful floor speech. March 28, 2021. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210328154611/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/28/nevada-lawmaker-comes-out-pansexual-sarah-peters/. March 28, 2021. live.
  21. Web site: Gilan. Jeff. Nevada Assemblywoman says she's pansexual; talks to News 3. March 28, 2021. KSNV. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210330181028/https://news3lv.com/newsletter-daily/nevada-assemblywoman-says-shes-pansexual-talks-to-news-3. March 30, 2021. live.
  22. Web site: Padgett. Donald. Nevada Congresswoman Sarah Peters Comes Out as Pansexual. March 29, 2021. Out. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210330183615/https://www.out.com/politics/2021/3/29/nevada-congresswoman-sarah-peters-comes-out-pansexual. March 30, 2021. live.
  23. Web site: Bollinger. Alex. Nevada lawmaker Sarah Peters comes out as pansexual in moving speech. March 29, 2021. LGBTQ Nation. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210329163523/https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/03/nevada-lawmaker-sarah-peters-comes-pansexual-moving-speech/. March 29, 2021. live.
  24. Web site: Raza-Sheikh. Zoya. Nevada assemblywoman Sarah Peters comes out as pansexual in powerful speech. March 2021. Gay Times. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210330192641/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/life/nevada-assemblywoman-sarah-peters-comes-out-as-pansexual-in-powerful-speech/. March 30, 2021. live.
  25. Web site: Factora. Jeff. Nevada Lawmaker Comes Out As Pansexual in Moving Speech, Greeted With Applause. March 29, 2021. them.. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210330183055/https://www.them.us/story/sarah-peters-nevada-lawmaker-comes-out-pansexual. March 30, 2021. live.
  26. Web site: Nevada lawmaker announces her pansexual identity in front of Assembly. March 26, 2021. KVVU-TV. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210327063447/https://www.fox5vegas.com/nevada-lawmaker-announces-her-pansexual-identity-in-front-of-assembly/article_e56a22a8-8eb9-11eb-ab4a-5789b69786f4.html. March 27, 2021. live.