Pete and Chasten Welcome Penelope Rose and Joseph August Buttigieg To Their Family: WATCH
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After announcing a couple weeks ago that they became parents, 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and his husband Chasten welcomed Penelope Rose and Joseph August to their family in a post on Instagram Saturday.
Buttigieg wrote: “Chasten and I are beyond thankful for all the kind wishes since first sharing the news that we’re becoming parents. We are delighted to welcome Penelope Rose and Joseph August Buttigieg to our family.”
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On August 17, NPR reported “Pete Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten, have welcomed a child, the transportation secretary announced on his personal Twitter account.”
Some news! https://t.co/ikp1yLq9sR
— Chasten Glezman Buttigieg (@Chasten) August 17, 2021
The news marked a moment of visibility for same-sex partners and parents who, until Buttigieg’s confirmation to the Transportation Department, had not had the representation of an openly gay person serving in a Senate-confirmed Cabinet position.
“For some time, Chasten and I have wanted to grow our family,” Buttigieg wrote in a tweet Tuesday. “We’re overjoyed to share that we’ve become parents! The process isn’t done yet and we’re thankful for the love, support, and respect for our privacy that has been offered to us. We can’t wait to share more soon.”
Buttigieg, 39, made history in February when he became the first openly gay, Senate-confirmed Cabinet member. He was sworn in by Vice President Harris with his husband, Chasten, at his side.
People magazine said: Buttigieg became a political star seemingly overnight when he became the first openly gay presidential candidate, after he announced his longshot presidential bid in April 2019, shortly before the ultimate winner, President Joe Biden, made his own campaign announcement.
Back in February 2020, while still on the campaign trail, Pete told PEOPLE that “no matter what happens, I think the next chapter in our personal lives is going to be about kids.” He said he was “really excited” about fatherhood and that “Chasten is just especially wired to be a great parent.”
“We would hope to do [it] soon,” added Pete. “One way or the other.”
In June, Pete got candid about coming out and shared the piece of advice he’d give his 13-year-old self during an interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart.
“At 13, I was beginning to understand that I was different — no, not understand. I was beginning to perceive that I was different and not understand,” he recalled. “The understanding that I had to gather was the task of years and years.”
“I guess, it would’ve been nice to hear, ‘There’s nothing wrong with you. Just hang in there,’ ” continued Pete.
“Thirteen-year-old Pete came out alright,” he added. “I want to make sure 13-year-old ‘whoever you are out there’ knows to hang in there, that — not to say it will be easy — but there’s a lot of people rooting for you, including the president and people like me.”
