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.
Sarah Peters | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nevada Assembly from the 24th district | |
| Assumed office November 7, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Amber Joiner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1987 (age 36–37) Silver City, Nevada, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Nevada, Reno (BS) |
Early life and education
editPeters was born in 1987 in Silver City, Nevada.[1][2] 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.[3]
Career
editAfter graduating from college, Peters worked as an engineering intern. In 2015, she became a certified environmental manager.[4] 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.[5][6] She took office on November 7, 2018 after receiving 16,000 votes and facing no challenger.[7] She stated that in the 2019 legislative session she would focus on indigenous rights, environmental issues, and healthcare.[4]
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".[8] She has also introduced legislation that she describes as strengthening indigenous sovereignty rights within tribal jurisdictions.[9] She sponsored a piece of legislation which made neon the official element of Nevada and encouraged state residents to enroll in health insurance programs.[10][11] 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.[12][13][14] She is the vice chair of the Health and Human Services committee and sits on two other committees.[15][16][17]
Personal
editPeters is married to Matt, a Marine veteran.[2] 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][8]
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
edit- ^ "Assemblywoman Sarah Peters". Nevada Legislature. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ a b "Sarah Peters for Nevada: About Sarah". Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ Iseminger, Tee (May 31, 2018). "Meet Our 2018 Labor Candidates: Sarah Peters, Assembly District 24". Nevada State AFL-CIO. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ a b "Freshman Orientation: Assemblywoman Sarah Peters". The Nevada Independent. February 15, 2019. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ "Sarah Peters". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "Newcomer Wades Into Politics, Wins Crowded Reno Assembly Race". Nevada Public Radio. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ Dentzer, Bill; Lochhead, Colton (February 2, 2021). "Meet the 12 freshmen joining the Nevada Legislature". Pahrump Valley Times. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ a b Peters, Sarah (March 26, 2021). "Assemblywoman says she's pansexual in floor speech". Las Vegas Review-Journal (Interview). Interviewed by Colton Lochhead and Bill Dentzer. Las Vegas. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Peters, Sarah (June 5, 2019). "Seeking justice for Nevada's indigenous communities". Reno Gazette Journal. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Hutchings, Holly (April 23, 2019). "Ensuring Neon's Place In Nevada History". KUNR. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Russell, Terri (November 7, 2019). "Lawmakers encourage Nevadans to get insured". KOLO-TV. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Russell, Terri (November 7, 2019). "Legislation seeks to curb public's access to governmental records". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Donnelly, Patrick (December 3, 2020). "Final Defense Bill Denies Military Request to Expand Nevada Bombing Ranges" (Press release). Center for Biological Diversity. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Clinch, Curtis (June 24, 2019). "Nevada Passes Sweeping Set of Pro-Equality Bills in 2019 Legislative Session" (Press release). Human Rights Campaign. Archived from the original on September 4, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "Health and Human Services". Nevada Legislature. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "Growth and Infrastructure". Nevada Legislature. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "Ways and Means". Nevada Legislature. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "Sarah Peters for Nevada: Equality". Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ "Nevada Assemblywoman Sarah Peters Announces She is Pansexual". KVTN. March 27, 2021. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Milton, Josh (March 28, 2021). "Nevada lawmaker comes out as pansexual in powerful floor speech". Archived from the original on March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Gilan, Jeff (March 28, 2021). "Nevada Assemblywoman says she's pansexual; talks to News 3". KSNV. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Padgett, Donald (March 29, 2021). "Nevada Congresswoman Sarah Peters Comes Out as Pansexual". Out. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Bollinger, Alex (March 29, 2021). "Nevada lawmaker Sarah Peters comes out as pansexual in moving speech". LGBTQ Nation. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Raza-Sheikh, Zoya (March 2021). "Nevada assemblywoman Sarah Peters comes out as pansexual in powerful speech". Gay Times. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Factora, Jeff (March 29, 2021). "Nevada Lawmaker Comes Out As Pansexual in Moving Speech, Greeted With Applause". them. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "Nevada lawmaker announces her pansexual identity in front of Assembly". KVVU-TV. March 26, 2021. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.