Pete Buttigieg and His Husband Chasten Set To Become Parents

U.S. transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg announced on Tuesday, August 17, that he and his husband, Chasten, were in the process of becoming parents. It’s a historic step for the D.C. couple — Buttigieg is the first openly gay individual ever confirmed by the Senate to serve in the President’s Cabinet.

“The process isn’t done yet, and we’re thankful for the love, support and respect for our privacy that has been offered to us,” Buttigieg said. “We can’t wait to share more soon.”

Katie Rogers of The New York Times reported that “the Buttigieges, who did not respond to phone calls and messages seeking more details about the announcement, had been exploring adoption in recent months.”

According to Rogers, “Buttigieg, 39, wed Chasten, 32, in 2018, about 10 months before starting his presidential campaign. As Mr. Buttigieg’s national profile grew, he and Chasten, a former middle-school teacher, have often worked to challenge perceptions of gay relationships.”

In a March 2021 interview with the Times, Chasten said, “people are accustomed to politics looking a different way, and you’re here to make sure that, you know, it can look a different way.”

Following the announcement, LGBTQ groups celebrated the couple’s headline-making news.

In a statement, Annise Parker, president of the Victory Institute (an organization that helps to prepare LGBTQ individuals to run for office) said, “As parents, they will now shine a national spotlight on LGBTQ families, who often face daunting challenges because of outdated policies that narrowly define what families are.”

 

Related: For more recent diversity and inclusion news, click here.

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