Sarah Peters

Peters 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]

After 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]

Peters 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 González of Texas and Lisa Bunker of New Hampshire.^[25] Additionally, she is the first pansexual lawmaker in Nevada.^[26]