Pete Buttigieg tweets Pride Month message as he settles into historic role
Buttigieg is the first openly gay person to be confirmed to a Cabinet post by the Senate. USA TODAY
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary and former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg called Pride Month “more relevant than ever” on Tuesday to kick off June.
Buttigieg, the first openly gay Cabinet secretary confirmed by the U.S. Senate, acknowledged that this month’s festivities come after a tumultuous year with “great uncertainty and loss” from the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the introduction of the vaccine, he said he’s happy Americans can gather safely in small gatherings once again.
He reminded his Twitter followers Tuesday that what has become the “defiant celebration of our love, our humanity and our collective resilience” during Pride Month began as a protest organized by Black trans women.
“Not long ago, there was a time when I believed that I might have to choose between serving my country and starting my own family,” he said. “In some countries, someone like me could never have served in the military or served as a mayor, let alone in a role like this.”
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President Joe Biden tapped Buttigieg, who previously served as a deployment officer in Afghanistan, for his role in the Department of Transportation in January.
Buttigieg said in the video that under his tutelage, the department is focused on the “protection” and “safety” of LGBTQ+ people.
“There is still much more work to be done to achieve true equality here and around the world,” he concluded. “But this is a season to join together in celebration of the hope, the love and the pride that will get us there.”
Contact Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com or 317-503-7514.
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Published at Tue, 01 Jun 2021 22:08:53 +0000