Could a gay man become the President of the United States of America?
That theoretical question moved one step closer to be a reality this week when Pete Buttigieg, the Mayor of South Bend Indiana announced he was forming an exploratory committee in consideration of a Presidential run in 2020. It’s the first step a candidate takes in announcing their running for President. His announcement makes him the first ever gay candidate for the Democratic party.
Buttigieg who has been South Bend’s mayor for the last six years, when he was elected for a second term he gained a staggering 80% of the vote. He is a Harvard graduate and a Rhodes Scholar. He has previously worked in the media and as a political staffer, he served as an Intelligence Officer in the US Navy Reserve and served in Afghanistan.
The politician announced he was gay in an essay published in 2015, two years later he shared that he was engaged to Chasten Glezman. The couple were married in 2018, and live in the same South Bend neighbourhood that Buttigieg grew up.
In his pitch to become to next ‘leader of the free world’ Buttigieg says it’s time for a Millenial to take on the top job, and as a lesser known candidate for the role he’ll be able to bring “different ideas” to the table.
The 37 year old is the latest Democrat to put their hand up for being the party’s presidential nominee in 2020. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York has announced her candidacy, as has California’s senator Kamala Harris. Hawaiian Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard cleared the decks for her Presidential run by apologising for her previous campaigning against LGBTI rights.
An older candidate in the field is Senator Elizabeth Warren. The 69 year old senator from Massachusetts announced her intention to run at the end of 2018. While representative John Delaney is hoping to go into the history books as the first ever President hailing from Maryland.
Entrepreneur Andrew Yang and the former Mayor of San Antonio Julián Castro have also announced their candidacy.
OIP Staff
