Sarah Peters
{{Short description|American politician and environmental engineer}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Sarah Peters
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1987}}
| 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.{{Cite web|title=Assemblywoman Sarah Peters|url=https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Legislator/A/Assembly/Current/24|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127195938/https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Legislator/A/Assembly/Current/24#personalCareerTab|archive-date=January 27, 2021|access-date=March 30, 2021|website=Nevada Legislature}} 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.{{cite web|last=Iseminger|first=Tee|url=https://nv.aflcio.org/news/meet-our-2018-labor-candidates-sarah-peters-assembly-district-24|title=Meet Our 2018 Labor Candidates: Sarah Peters, Assembly District 24|date=May 31, 2018|website=Nevada State AFL-CIO|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208023216/https://nv.aflcio.org/news/meet-our-2018-labor-candidates-sarah-peters-assembly-district-24|archive-date=February 8, 2021|url-status=live}}
Career
After graduating from college, Peters worked as an engineering intern. In 2015, she became a certified environmental manager.{{Cite web|date=February 15, 2019|title=Freshman Orientation: Assemblywoman Sarah Peters|url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/freshman-orientation-assemblywoman-sarah-peters|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108001008/https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/freshman-orientation-assemblywoman-sarah-peters|archive-date=November 8, 2020|access-date=April 20, 2020|website=The Nevada Independent}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_Peters|title=Sarah Peters|website=Ballotpedia|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109034426/https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_Peters|archive-date=November 9, 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://knpr.org/knpr/2018-06/newcomer-wades-politics-wins-crowded-reno-assembly-race|title=Newcomer Wades Into Politics, Wins Crowded Reno Assembly Race|website=Nevada Public Radio|access-date=April 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129132841/https://knpr.org/knpr/2018-06/newcomer-wades-politics-wins-crowded-reno-assembly-race|archive-date=November 29, 2020|url-status=live}} She took office on November 7, 2018 after receiving 16,000 votes and facing no challenger.{{Cite web|last1=Dentzer|first1=Bill|last2=Lochhead|first2=Colton|url=https://pvtimes.com/news/12-newcomers-join-2021-nevada-legislature-95320/|date=February 2, 2021|title=Meet the 12 freshmen joining the Nevada Legislature|website=Pahrump Valley Times|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208042717/https://pvtimes.com/news/12-newcomers-join-2021-nevada-legislature-95320/|archive-date=February 8, 2021|url-status=live}} 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".{{cite interview|last=Peters|first=Sarah|interviewer=Colton Lochhead and Bill Dentzer|title=Assemblywoman says she's pansexual in floor speech|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/2021-legislature/assemblywoman-says-shes-pansexual-in-floor-speech-2315910/|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329192859/https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/2021-legislature/assemblywoman-says-shes-pansexual-in-floor-speech-2315910/|archive-date=March 29, 2021|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|location=Las Vegas|date=March 26, 2021|url-status=live}} She has also introduced legislation that she describes as strengthening indigenous sovereignty rights within tribal jurisdictions.{{Cite web|last=Peters|first=Sarah|url=https://www.rgj.com/story/opinion/voices/2019/06/04/seeking-justice-indigenous-communities-peters/1344491001/|date=June 5, 2019|title=Seeking justice for Nevada's indigenous communities|website=Reno Gazette Journal|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210330191024/https://www.rgj.com/story/opinion/voices/2019/06/04/seeking-justice-indigenous-communities-peters/1344491001/|archive-date=March 30, 2021|url-status=live}} She sponsored a piece of legislation which made neon the official element of Nevada and encouraged state residents to enroll in health insurance programs.{{Cite web|last=Hutchings|first=Holly|url=https://www.kunr.org/post/ensuring-neons-place-nevada-history#stream/0/|date=April 23, 2019|title=Ensuring Neon's Place In Nevada History|website=KUNR|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222055550/https://www.kunr.org/post/ensuring-neons-place-nevada-history|archive-date=December 22, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Russell|first=Terri|url=https://www.kolotv.com/content/news/Lawmakers--encourage-Nevadans-to-get-insured-564639431.html|date=November 7, 2019|title=Lawmakers encourage Nevadans to get insured|website=KOLO-TV|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121020021/https://www.kolotv.com/content/news/Lawmakers--encourage-Nevadans-to-get-insured-564639431.html|archive-date=January 21, 2021|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Russell|first=Terri|url=https://www.hardrockhotel.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/legislation-seeks-to-curb-publics-access-to-governmental-records-2302943/|date=November 7, 2019|title=Legislation seeks to curb public's access to governmental records|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=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/|archive-date=March 30, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite press release |last=Donnelly |first=Patrick |date=December 3, 2020 |title=Final Defense Bill Denies Military Request to Expand Nevada Bombing Ranges |url=https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/final-defense-bill-denies-military-request-expand-nevada-bombing-ranges-2020-12-03/ |agency=Center for Biological Diversity |access-date=March 30, 2021 |archive-url=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/ |archive-date=December 7, 2020 |url-status=live}}{{cite press release |last=Clinch |first=Curtis |date=June 24, 2019 |title=Nevada Passes Sweeping Set of Pro-Equality Bills in 2019 Legislative Session |url=https://www.hrc.org/news/nevada-passes-sweeping-set-of-pro-equality-bills-in-2019 |agency=Human Rights Campaign |access-date=March 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904060606/https://www.hrc.org/news/nevada-passes-sweeping-set-of-pro-equality-bills-in-2019 |archive-date=September 4, 2020 |url-status=live}} She is the vice chair of the Health and Human Services committee and sits on two other committees.{{Cite web|url=https://asm.leg.state.nv.us/committees/health-and-human-services/|title=Health and Human Services|publisher=Nevada Legislature|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129095747/https://asm.leg.state.nv.us/committees/health-and-human-services/|archive-date=January 29, 2021|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://asm.leg.state.nv.us/committees/growth-and-infrastructure/|title=Growth and Infrastructure|publisher=Nevada Legislature|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128140245/https://asm.leg.state.nv.us/committees/growth-and-infrastructure/|archive-date=January 28, 2021|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://asm.leg.state.nv.us/committees/ways-and-means/|title=Ways and Means|publisher=Nevada Legislature|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130174122/https://asm.leg.state.nv.us/committees/ways-and-means/|archive-date=January 30, 2021|url-status=live}}
Personal
Peters is married to Matt, a Marine veteran.{{cite web|url=https://www.votesarahpeters.com/sarah-peters-nevada-state-assembly-district-24/|title=Sarah Peters for Nevada: About Sarah|access-date=February 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030082756/https://www.votesarahpeters.com/sarah-peters-nevada-state-assembly-district-24/|archive-date=October 30, 2020|url-status=live}} She came out as bisexual to her family at age 16.{{cite web|url=https://www.votesarahpeters.com/issues/equality-nevada-assembly-district-24/|title=Sarah Peters for Nevada: Equality|access-date=February 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126213523/https://www.votesarahpeters.com/issues/equality-nevada-assembly-district-24/|archive-date=November 26, 2020|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.ktvn.com/story/43563457/nevada-assemblywoman-sarah-peters-announces-she-is-pansexual|title=Nevada Assemblywoman Sarah Peters Announces She is Pansexual|date=March 27, 2021|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327211102/https://www.ktvn.com/story/43563457/nevada-assemblywoman-sarah-peters-announces-she-is-pansexual|website=KVTN|archive-date=March 27, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Milton|first=Josh|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/28/nevada-lawmaker-comes-out-pansexual-sarah-peters/|title=Nevada lawmaker comes out as pansexual in powerful floor speech|date=March 28, 2021|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328154611/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/28/nevada-lawmaker-comes-out-pansexual-sarah-peters/|archive-date=March 28, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Gilan|first=Jeff|url=https://news3lv.com/newsletter-daily/nevada-assemblywoman-says-shes-pansexual-talks-to-news-3|title=Nevada Assemblywoman says she's pansexual; talks to News 3|date=March 28, 2021|website=KSNV|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330181028/https://news3lv.com/newsletter-daily/nevada-assemblywoman-says-shes-pansexual-talks-to-news-3|archive-date=March 30, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Padgett|first=Donald|url=https://news3lv.com/newsletter-daily/nevada-assemblywoman-says-shes-pansexual-talks-to-news-3|title=Nevada Congresswoman Sarah Peters Comes Out as Pansexual|date=March 29, 2021|website=Out|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330183615/https://www.out.com/politics/2021/3/29/nevada-congresswoman-sarah-peters-comes-out-pansexual|archive-date=March 30, 2021|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|last=Bollinger|first=Alex|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/03/nevada-lawmaker-sarah-peters-comes-pansexual-moving-speech/|title=Nevada lawmaker Sarah Peters comes out as pansexual in moving speech|date=March 29, 2021|website=LGBTQ Nation|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329163523/https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/03/nevada-lawmaker-sarah-peters-comes-pansexual-moving-speech/|archive-date=March 29, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Raza-Sheikh|first=Zoya|url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/life/nevada-assemblywoman-sarah-peters-comes-out-as-pansexual-in-powerful-speech/|title=Nevada assemblywoman Sarah Peters comes out as pansexual in powerful speech|date=March 2021|website=Gay Times|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330192641/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/life/nevada-assemblywoman-sarah-peters-comes-out-as-pansexual-in-powerful-speech/|archive-date=March 30, 2021|url-status=live}}
Peters is one of three openly pansexual legislators in the United States, along with Mary González of Texas and Lisa Bunker of New Hampshire.{{cite web|last=Factora|first=Jeff|url=https://news3lv.com/newsletter-daily/nevada-assemblywoman-says-shes-pansexual-talks-to-news-3|title=Nevada Lawmaker Comes Out As Pansexual in Moving Speech, Greeted With Applause|date=March 29, 2021|website=them.|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330183055/https://www.them.us/story/sarah-peters-nevada-lawmaker-comes-out-pansexual|archive-date=March 30, 2021|url-status=live}} Additionally, she is the first lawmaker in Nevada that identifies as pansexual.{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.fox5vegas.com/nevada-lawmaker-announces-her-pansexual-identity-in-front-of-assembly/article_e56a22a8-8eb9-11eb-ab4a-5789b69786f4.html|title=Nevada lawmaker announces her pansexual identity in front of Assembly|date=March 26, 2021|website=KVVU-TV|access-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=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|archive-date=March 27, 2021|url-status=live}}
References
{{Nevada State Assembly}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peters, Sarah}}
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:American pansexual people
Category:Democratic Party members of the Nevada Assembly
Category:University of Nevada, Reno alumni
Category:American environmental engineers
Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Nevada