Jet-Setting with Brian Sims: From Camping Adventures to finding love (at tea) in P-Town
Brian Sims, the popular former Pennsylvania legislator, on his favorite places
Mark
Brian Sims has worn many hats: trailblazing Pennsylvania legislator, civil rights attorney, college football captain, and now CEO of Agenda PAC, the nation’s most aggressive effort to defeat anti-LBGTQ+ extremists at the ballot box.
But when he’s not in the political arena, Brian is just as likely to be found exploring the outdoors, riding his bike down the California coast for the AIDS/Life Cycle, or enjoying Provincetown with his husband, Alex Drakos.
When GayCities connected, Sims was at his Poconos cabin, a place he and Alex had purchased just outside Manhattan, which he calls his favorite spot on earth.
“My husband and I have owned it for just about two years now, and it gets better by the month,” he explained. “It’s about 52 miles due west of Manhattan, and we fell in love with the area after friends of ours who live on the lake tipped us off about a place for sale. My husband, being in an MBA program, made this incredible spreadsheet of what we were looking for, and this house checked every box.”
The couple uses the cabin as a getaway with friends, but when they’re away, they also list it on Airbnb (check it out here).
“We are Superhosts, which still feels like getting a gold star I didn’t ask for,” he laughed. Their approach to hosting is simple. “One of the things we do is let people check in early whenever possible. Our cleaner usually comes right after a guest leaves, so by the next morning the place is ready to go. If our guests are traveling and can spend a few extra hours down by the lake instead of stuck in traffic, that feels like a win.” As an Airbnb guest himself, Sims appreciates when people treat homes with respect. “I love when guests actually use the things we’ve filled the cabin with, the books, the games. It makes me happy to see them enjoyed. And while we do have someone clean afterward, it’s always nice when guests take a moment to wipe down the counters or stack dishes before they leave.”
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For Sims, the cabin isn’t his only escape. He’s also a dedicated camper. “I’m a prolific camper,” he said. “Assateague and Chincoteague Islands on the Virginia and Maryland border are incredible. They’re home to the last herd of wild horses of their kind in America, and the camping there is some of the best in the country.” He’s also getting to know the Hudson Valley and Catskills now that he lives in New York. “Honestly, though, any time I can set up a tent and a hammock, I’m happy.”
He shared some practical camping wisdom too. “For beach camping, pack light and wear the same thing every day. Buy a cheap pair of rubber-soled slippers from Walmart. They’re great for nighttime walks on the sand, and you won’t feel bad leaving them behind. Also, guard your water. You need a gallon per person per day, and if you’re remote, bury it or lock it in your car. Animals will find it otherwise. Trust me, I’ve learned that lesson.”
That lesson included a close encounter.
“I was camping in Pennsylvania during my run for Lieutenant Governor and came across a cave on a ridge. I walked right in, which I should have known better than to do, and sure enough, there was a bear inside. It growled, and I ran so fast I bruised my leg on the way out. My Newfoundland dog, Temper, was with me, and thankfully, we all made it out okay. But yeah… don’t walk into caves.”
Sims lights up when talking about Provincetown, a place that holds deep personal meaning.
“I didn’t really start going until my thirties. At first, I thought it felt inaccessible, or maybe not my community. I was wrong. In 2015, I went up for a fundraiser and ended up meeting people who became lifelong friends, like State Senator Julian Cyr. I started returning every summer. Then in 2021, during Bear Week, I met Alex at tea at the Boatslip. My friends liked him so much they invited him to dinner with us, and we’ve pretty much been together ever since.”
His Provincetown must-do list is extensive. “Go to WomenCraft for shopping, and eat at Sal’s at the end of town. It’s cash-only, but one of the best meals you’ll have. The Canteen is fantastic. Governor Bradford now has an omakase chef, which sounds unusual but is so good. And of course, go to tea at the Boatslip, but also try other teas and happy hours around town. For nightlife, Harbor Lounge is one of my favorite bars in P-Town. And the drag? Some of the best in the country: Miss Richfield, Nina West, BenDeLaCreme.
“You can’t go wrong.”
This summer is extra special for Sims as he and Alex were wed in Mystic, Connecticut. “We got legally married in Boston just before the end of 2023. With everything happening politically, we wanted to make sure our marriage was protected in a state with constitutional marriage equality. It was just our parents, Senator Cyr, and the Speaker of the Massachusetts House who gave us her balcony for the ceremony. It turned out to be magical. Now we’re planning our big September wedding in Mystic with both our families and friends.”
Sims is also an avid cyclist and has completed the AIDS/LifeCycle, a grueling 545-mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. “My husband actually signed me up without telling me. It’s hard, but because it’s hard for everyone, the way people treat each other on the ride is incredible. It’s thousands of people showing up at their best selves, and it raises millions for such an important cause.”
When asked about dream destinations, Sims doesn’t hesitate.
“Tibet,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to go.” His favorite restaurant in the world is Nepenthe in Big Sur, California. “It cantilevers off a cliff… magical.” For bars, his heart belongs to the now-closed C.B. Hannegan’s in Los Gatos, where he once worked. In New York, he loves Verse in Hell’s Kitchen. “The people who own the bars and the people who work there are what make the difference, and Verse is doing it right.”
He also urges queer travelers not to overlook red states.
“My husband and I have driven cross-country and stopped at LGBTQ+ bars in places like Oklahoma City, Kansas City, and Salt Lake City. They were fantastic…some of the best people you’ll meet. We’re everywhere, and those communities are worth supporting.” Salt Lake City in particular surprised him. “Mormons generally, I find in my life, are multidimensional people, and especially the queer Mormons or former Mormons I know are really intellectual, artistic, and musical. That was something I got to see on display there. It’s a really fun, cool city to spend a weekend as a queer person.”
Whether it’s a bear encounter on a Pennsylvania ridge, a spontaneous romance at a Provincetown tea dance, or the resilience of queer communities in unexpected places, Sims brings the same sense of curiosity, warmth, and determination to his travels that he does to his work.
“Despite everything going on in the world, to be in love and to be loved is one of the great human gifts,” he said. “I am very, very blessed right now.”
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