It’s Official. Mayor Pete Buttigieg is First Openly LGBTQ Democratic Presidential Candidate in U.S. History
“Meteoric rise” puts Mayor Buttigieg among top contenders in primary
Washington, DC – Mayor Pete Buttigieg officially launched his presidential candidacy before a crowd of thousands in his hometown city of South Bend, Indiana this afternoon. The announcement makes Mayor Buttigieg the first openly LGBTQ Democratic presidential candidate in U.S. history – a milestone in American politics and for an LGBTQ community increasingly able to win high-level elected office.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund and the first openly LGBTQ person elected mayor of a top 10 American city, is on-the-ground in South Bend and was on the announcement stage today.
“Mayor Pete shattered a lavender ceiling once thought unbreakable, becoming the first openly LGBTQ Democratic presidential candidate in American history and our first real shot at the Oval Office,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “There is enormous power in an openly gay presidential candidate stumping at town halls in Iowa and speaking to Americans from the presidential debate stage – it changes perceptions of our community and raises the bar for candidates who seek LGBTQ support. While Mayor Pete’s candidacy is historic and a milestone moment for our community, his meteoric rise is most notable for the support he’s receiving from diverse groups of voters. There are enormous minefields and hurdles to running as an openly LGBTQ candidate, and so far, Mayor Pete has gracefully leapt over them on the world’s largest political stage. He’s the real deal.”
Last Sunday, Mayor Buttigieg spoke at LGBTQ Victory Fund’s National Champagne Brunch in Washington, DC, where he received national attention for his speech on struggling to come out. Media is welcome to use clips from the speech orphotos from the event with attribution to “LGBTQ Victory Fund.”
The first openly LGBTQ presidential candidate was Fred Karger, who ran in the Republican presidential primary in 2012.
LGBTQ Victory Fund
LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government.
