Married gay mayor puts forward his candidacy for president first time in the history of the US
On Wednesday, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg entered the 2020 race for president. This is the first time in history that a married gay man has run for US president.
However, the mayor didn’t just announce his candidacy in an ordinary way but created a video that showed him with his husband.
In 2011, Indiana resident Pete Buttigieg, 37, was elected as mayor. Now he’s joined other Democrats in running for the 2020 presidency.
I launched a presidential exploratory committee because it is a season for boldness and it is time to focus on the future. Are you ready to walk away from the politics of the past?
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) January 23, 2019
Join the team at https://t.co/Xlqn10brgH. pic.twitter.com/K6aeOeVrO7
Buttigieg is an openly gay man who married his partner, Chasten Glezman last year. He even live-streamed their wedding day.
The mayor announced his candidacy with a video featuring scenes of him and his husband cooking and playing with their dog, Buddy. In the clip, he said: "We can't look for greatness in the past.”
He added that "Right now, our country needs a fresh start." Although his platform hasn’t been released, he said it would focus on freedom, democracy, and security.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) January 23, 2019
If the mayor wins his bid for the Democratic nomination, he would be the first nominee of a major political party who publicly identifies as gay. However, should he then beat President Donald Trump; it would be a historic event.
This 50 year old lady from NE Indiana is ALL IN for Pete!@allinwithchris
— plays with yarn (@SMC683) January 23, 2019
Buttigieg was only 29 when he was elected as mayor. Four years later he came out just days before the Supreme Court struck down same-sex marriage bans nationwide.
Unlike Trump, Buttigieg won’t bring an “I alone can fix it” arrogance to WH. He will surround himself with great minds as advisors vs spoiled, fashion-copier kids. Mayor Pete has the intelligence and leadership our nation is lacking.
— Carol Barry (@CarolBarryCPLP) January 23, 2019
Acknowledging that his announcement video featuring his husband was historical on its own, the mayor addressed it to CNN's Dan Merica. He stated:
"I am also mindful of the fact that this just might make it a little easier for the next person who comes along. My sincere hope is that by the time my kids are old enough, once we have kids, to understand politics, that it won't even be newsworthy."
Time and time again, California cranks out phenomenal political candidates. Good luck, @SenKamalaHarris.https://t.co/t9tXvDB44S
— Steve Westly (@SteveWestly) January 21, 2019
Some of the other Democratic politicians who are running for president include former mayor of San Antonio, Texas Julián Castro, US Representative from Hawaii's 2nd District Tulsi Gabbard, Junior US senator representing New York Kirsten Gillibrand, and Junior US senator representing California Kamala Harris to name a few.
