Mister Secretary

Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg (yup, that's his full name) was the 32nd mayor of South Bend, Indiana, serving for two terms, ran for the nation's highest office, and currently serves as the United States Secretary of Transportation. Oh yeah, and he is gay. That's a big deal.

Representation matters. Visibility matter. That seems to be a theme this month, but it's true. Buttigieg was the first person from the LGBTQ community to be mayor of South Bend, and was in fact Indiana's first openly gay elected executive. He was the first gay man to launch a major presidential campaign. He even won the Iowa caucuses! As Transportation Secretary, he became the first openly LGBTQ Cabinet member in American history.  I have heard people say that Buttigieg gives them hope.  Indeed.

His husband Chasten Buttigieg who used to perform improv comedy, has written a book,   I Have Something to Tell You, which details his life and tells of his experiences with husband Pete on the 2020 campaign trail.  Pete is a published author as well having written Shortest Way Home : One Mayor's Challenge and a Model for America's Future and Trust: America's Best Chance.

During this Pride Month, it's exciting to see such a visible member of the LGBTQ community.  I've written here about him before and am sure I will have more to say.  Thank you Mister Secretary for making a difference.