Few people knew of Pete Buttigieg two years ago. Now he serves as Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation.
The Indianan native attended Harvard until 2004 and continued his studies at Oxford University, specifically Pembroke College, on a Rhodes scholarship. In 2007 he graduated from Pembroke with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, politics and economics. He then joined the U.S. Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer in September 2009.
Buttigieg’s academic success, particularly in politics related areas, helped persuade South Bend voters to elect him mayor in 2011. Shortly after his election into office, he took a seven-month mayoral leave to serve in Afghanistan on behalf of the U.S. Navy.
“Mayor Pete” worked to transform South Bend’s infrastructure and fiscal dynamics. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that household income increased, poverty declined and debt was cut in half. He launched the “Smart Streets” initiative to improve street design both downtown and on the West Side. The program fostered small business growth and helped private investors. In addition, his leadership cultivated new citywide job growth while expanding opportunity for immigrants and people of color.
While representing South Bend, Buttigieg secretly began dating an elementary school teacher named Chasten Glezman. They developed a primarily long-distance relationship after meeting on the dating app Hinge in 2015. He and Glezman—now also Mr. Buttigieg—got married after three years of dating, and they have since strongly advocated for education and LGBTQ+ rights together.
Chasten Buttigieg did not always lead a glamorous life in the political spotlight. Growing up he experienced bullying, homelessness, family estrangement and sexual assault among other hard circumstances. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in theater and global studies, he kept a full-time job and worked as a Starbucks barista to afford his basic healthcare costs.
Now Pete and Chasten own two dogs, Truman and Buddy. All four of them lived together in their South Bend home before deciding to embark on the 2020 presidential campaign trail for Pete’s revolutionary candidacy. They now live in Washington, D.C. like other Cabinet members.
Pete Buttigieg entered the 2020 Democratic Presidential Race in April 2019. His platform proposed abolishing the death penalty, raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and providing student debt relief. LGBTQ+ equality remained a top priority as well.
Buttigieg saw impressive poll numbers. He approached 20 percent in the Iowa Democratic caucuses, falling just below Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren at the time; he even superseded Joe Biden at first. However, the former mayor dropped out of the primaries due to a discouraging setback in South Carolina right before the Super Tuesday Primary.
After retiring his presidential campaign, Buttigieg eagerly endorsed and campaigned for Democratic Nominee Joe Biden leading up to last November. Biden nominated him to be Secretary of Transportation immediately upon his inauguration on Jan. 21, and he was officially sworn in on Feb. 3.
And so the story ends—Buttigieg made history as the first gay Cabinet member of the United States. He set a precedent for aspiring LGBTQ politicians and perhaps inspired them to enter the public domain while being open about themselves. His historic accomplishments as a gay man will leave behind a legacy that diversifies federal departments in the future.
Buttigieg tweeted on Jan. 22, “Having my husband @Chasten by my side yesterday in a hearing room is something not seen before for a Cabinet nominee. And our hope is that it makes it easier for the next person to come along.”
The Indianan native attended Harvard until 2004 and continued his studies at Oxford University, specifically Pembroke College, on a Rhodes scholarship. In 2007 he graduated from Pembroke with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, politics and economics. He then joined the U.S. Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer in September 2009.
Buttigieg’s academic success, particularly in politics related areas, helped persuade South Bend voters to elect him mayor in 2011. Shortly after his election into office, he took a seven-month mayoral leave to serve in Afghanistan on behalf of the U.S. Navy.
“Mayor Pete” worked to transform South Bend’s infrastructure and fiscal dynamics. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that household income increased, poverty declined and debt was cut in half. He launched the “Smart Streets” initiative to improve street design both downtown and on the West Side. The program fostered small business growth and helped private investors. In addition, his leadership cultivated new citywide job growth while expanding opportunity for immigrants and people of color.
While representing South Bend, Buttigieg secretly began dating an elementary school teacher named Chasten Glezman. They developed a primarily long-distance relationship after meeting on the dating app Hinge in 2015. He and Glezman—now also Mr. Buttigieg—got married after three years of dating, and they have since strongly advocated for education and LGBTQ+ rights together.
Chasten Buttigieg did not always lead a glamorous life in the political spotlight. Growing up he experienced bullying, homelessness, family estrangement and sexual assault among other hard circumstances. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in theater and global studies, he kept a full-time job and worked as a Starbucks barista to afford his basic healthcare costs.
Now Pete and Chasten own two dogs, Truman and Buddy. All four of them lived together in their South Bend home before deciding to embark on the 2020 presidential campaign trail for Pete’s revolutionary candidacy. They now live in Washington, D.C. like other Cabinet members.
Pete Buttigieg entered the 2020 Democratic Presidential Race in April 2019. His platform proposed abolishing the death penalty, raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and providing student debt relief. LGBTQ+ equality remained a top priority as well.
Buttigieg saw impressive poll numbers. He approached 20 percent in the Iowa Democratic caucuses, falling just below Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren at the time; he even superseded Joe Biden at first. However, the former mayor dropped out of the primaries due to a discouraging setback in South Carolina right before the Super Tuesday Primary.
After retiring his presidential campaign, Buttigieg eagerly endorsed and campaigned for Democratic Nominee Joe Biden leading up to last November. Biden nominated him to be Secretary of Transportation immediately upon his inauguration on Jan. 21, and he was officially sworn in on Feb. 3.
And so the story ends—Buttigieg made history as the first gay Cabinet member of the United States. He set a precedent for aspiring LGBTQ politicians and perhaps inspired them to enter the public domain while being open about themselves. His historic accomplishments as a gay man will leave behind a legacy that diversifies federal departments in the future.
Buttigieg tweeted on Jan. 22, “Having my husband @Chasten by my side yesterday in a hearing room is something not seen before for a Cabinet nominee. And our hope is that it makes it easier for the next person to come along.”
