Pete Buttigieg’s Husband Rallies LGBTQ+ Community in Michigan Ahead of 2024 Election
By Jake Beardslee ·
June 23, 2024
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A roundtable discussion on LGBTQ+ rights and the upcoming election took place at the Grand Rapids Pride Center on Friday, featuring Chasten Buttigieg, author, activist, and spouse of U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Pete For America / Wikimedia
Joining Buttigieg were prominent figures including Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson, along with State Representatives Kristian Grant, John Fitzgerald, and Phil Skaggs, WOOD-TV reported. Alonzo Adams / USA TODAY NETWORK
The discussion centered on strategies to achieve legislative victories for the LGBTQ+ community and emphasized the significance of the November election. Tony Webster / Wikimedia
Buttigieg stressed the need for a less tumultuous political climate, stating, "Make politics boring again. We shouldn't have to be glued to the television every day or to social media, wondering what rights are at stake." Library of Congress Life / Wikimedia
He added, "Politics is supposed to be about making your life easier and safer, whether that's just navigating the process of changing your name and getting a piece of paper so that you can live your life more authentically." Library of Congress Life / Wikimedia
Buttigieg also pointed out the president's power to nominate Supreme Court justices. Library of Congress Life / Wikimedia
He also emphasized the importance of collective action and sharing personal stories in achieving political goals. Buttigieg explained, "I think what we all need to recognize ... we as voters ... is that winning requires vulnerability. And we are all made better when other people share their stories." Alonzo Adams / USA TODAY NETWORK
He used a playground game analogy to illustrate his point: "When you look at what's at stake, it's easy to say, 'I can't do this myself. I can't solve all of these problems by myself, so I'm going to sit down.' But if we're playing that game and everyone says, 'Well, it's just too hard, I'm going to sit down,' well, of course we won't win. But when we recognize the intersectionality and we recognize that we are stronger together, then that link becomes just a little bit tighter." Alonzo Adams / USA TODAY NETWORK
