Pete and Chasten Buttigieg are going to be parents.
The Secretary of Transportation, who made history when he became the first openly gay Cabinet member confirmed by the Senate, and only the second openly gay Cabinet member in US history, took to Twitter to share the joyous news.
For some time, Chasten and I have wanted to grow our family. We\u2019re overjoyed to share that we\u2019ve become parents! The process isn\u2019t done yet and we\u2019re thankful for the love, support, and respect for our privacy that has been offered to us. We can\u2019t wait to share more soon.— Pete Buttigieg (@Pete Buttigieg) 1629220527
"For some time, Chasten and I have wanted to grow our family. 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."
Chasten previously told USA Today last year he and the former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana were in the process of adopting a child, and acknowledged all the frustrations and anxiety the process brings.
"We have quite a few friends in our circle who've navigated that, so we've just been having a lot of conversations with friends and started trying to figure out what will work for us."
Chasten also disclosed to The Washington Postback in July, he and the Secretary of Transportation had come close to becoming parents on multiple occasions prior to this.
"It's a really weird cycle of anger and frustration and hope."
"You think it's finally happening and you get so excited, and then it's gone."
Among those coming out to Twitter to send their love to the new parents was First Lady Jill Biden.
Congratulations to you and @Chasten! Welcome to parenthood!https://twitter.com/PeteButtigieg/status/1427680484109262848\u00a0\u2026— Jill Biden (@Jill Biden) 1629224898
Several other notable members of the Democratic Party offered their congratulations, including Jamie Harrison, Chair of the Democratic National Convention, US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, White House domestic policy advisor Susan Rice and former advisor to President Barack Obama Valerie Jarrett.
.@PeteButtigieg & @Chasten Congratulations! Your lives will be forever changed! Enjoy every single moment.https://twitter.com/petebuttigieg/status/1427680484109262848\u00a0\u2026— Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair (@Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair) 1629221582
Being a parent has been one of the great joys of my life. Congrats to you and Chasten on this terrific news!https://twitter.com/PeteButtigieg/status/1427680484109262848\u00a0\u2026— Secretary Deb Haaland (@Secretary Deb Haaland) 1629223174
Awesome news! Warmest congrats, @PeteButtigieg and @Chasten. Kids are the greatest blessing.https://twitter.com/petebuttigieg/status/1427680484109262848\u00a0\u2026— Susan Rice (@Susan Rice) 1629229958
In the midst of so much pain and anguish, here is some genuinely wonderful news. Congratulations to @PeteButtigieg and @Chasten!! . Your lives will never be the same. Welcome to the best club on earth. https://twitter.com/petebuttigieg/status/1427680484109262848\u00a0\u2026— Valerie Jarrett (@Valerie Jarrett) 1629226328
The Human Rights Campaign also congratulated DC's ground breaking LGBTQ power couple on their exciting new chapter.
Congratulations @PeteButtigieg and @Chasten! We are excited to watch your family grow and we wish you the very best on the journey of parenthood!pic.twitter.com/vNc0paoTQx— Human Rights Campaign (@Human Rights Campaign) 1629226083
MSNBCs Joy-Ann Reid and CNN's Kasie Hunt, no doubt eager to share some good news in the current climate, also shared their joy on Twitter.
Congratulations, gents!! Blessings to your growing family— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37 (@Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37) 1629222066
!!!!! Congratulations to you & @Chasten!— Kasie Hunt (@Kasie Hunt) 1629221207
In a surprising moment of bi-partisanship, even the recently departed conservative voice of The View, Meghan McCain, chimed in with well wishes.
Omg! Congratulations to you and Chasten!!! What spectacular news! https://twitter.com/petebuttigieg/status/1427680484109262848\u00a0\u2026— Meghan McCain (@Meghan McCain) 1629221381
McCain, who memorably clashed with Buttigieg on The View on a number of occasions, particularly over disagreements regarding abortion, declared the announcement was "spectacular news!"
However McCain's former friend and fellow Republican Denise McAllister couldn't let the announcement go without exhibiting the homophobia that got her fired from conservative publication The Federalist by McCain's husband, Ben Domenech.
To intentionally rob a child of a mother is evil. Love is to want the best for the most vulnerable, not what is best for us and our unfulfilled dreams of normalcy.— Denise McAllister (@Denise McAllister) 1629226736
And I fully expect to be severely ratioed because we live in evil times when what is bitter is called sweet and the sweet is called bitter. Let him who has ears hear.— Denise McAllister (@Denise McAllister) 1629227302
To intentionally rob child of a loving, financially secure home based on your own homophobia is so evil and against God.\n\nWhat do you say to single fathers and widowers?— Get all the sighs & the moans just right (@Get all the sighs & the moans just right) 1629227640
You must have a miserable soul to say something like that to Pete and Chasten. Love is what\u2019s important!! I\u2019ve known many women who didn\u2019t love their children and those poor babies suffered at their \u201cmom\u2019s\u201d hands! Far better 2 loving fathers!!— Wanda McDonald, Realtor (@Wanda McDonald, Realtor) 1629228631
McAllister continued spouting her bigotry on her own Twitter page.
Two million couples are waiting to adopt a child in the US. Numerically, there is no reason to put a child in a home without both a mother and a father.\nhttps://www.americanadoptions.com/pregnant/waiting_adoptive_families\u00a0\u2026https://twitter.com/staceylmayo/status/1427744645887393794\u00a0\u2026— Denise McAllister (@Denise McAllister) 1629236067
As soon as all the kids in US foster care are adopted, we can start bleeding for the "2 million couples who are waiting to adopt".— Texit.2023 (@Texit.2023) 1629238989
But homophobic bigots like McAllister were few and far between in the responses to the Buttigieg's good news.
Many more people were excited by the happy news and couldn't wait to share their excitement at their big announcement.
Mazel Tov!!!!!! What a lucky child to have you both as it\u2019s parents!— Meredith Salenger (@Meredith Salenger) 1629234399
As gay dads of FIVE adopted kids, my husband @RobertCooper58 and I want to offer you and Chasten our heartfelt congrats!! We\u2019re so happy for you both!!— Jon Cooper \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Jon Cooper \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1629221848
pic.twitter.com/59NJbJHZpk— Ric (@Ric) 1629225890
Congratulations, y'all! What wonderful news!— Charlotte Clymer \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Charlotte Clymer \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1629226798
Mazal tov!— Jewish Dems (@Jewish Dems) 1629221423
A child raised on Mr. Roger\u2019s Neighborhood is nice.— Jane Lynch (@Jane Lynch) 1629229647
How wonderful a blessed baby— \u270c\ud83c\udffcrosanna arquette (@\u270c\ud83c\udffcrosanna arquette) 1629251942
My husband and I adopted our baby girl 18 years ago! Now she\u2019s headed off to college at Michigan State on an athletic scholarship and just voted for the first time in the #NoOnTheRecall. Those 18 years pass by quickly so enjoy every minute!pic.twitter.com/GYDH8bZX1U— Clark Williams (@Clark Williams) 1629232911
Very happy for both of you and sending you much love.— Fred Guttenberg (@Fred Guttenberg) 1629221985
Congrats boss! This Air Traffic controller is so proud of you and so happy for you and your husband!— Dr. Richard Love (@Dr. Richard Love) 1629220609
Congratulations @PeteButtigieg @SecretaryPete, @Chasten and @firstdogsSB too. I wish you and your growing family, every happiness. My husband and I have been dads a very long time, the joy is perpetual. Here is to your increasing joy!! Andy @andytoronto at home in California!pic.twitter.com/hN9qRLV5n5— Andy Heppelle He/Him #BlackLivesMatter (@Andy Heppelle He/Him #BlackLivesMatter) 1629241364
Congrats!!! So thrilled for you! Here\u2019s our family. Thrilled to welcome you to fatherhood!https://twitter.com/DrScottHadland/status/1313825352209367041\u00a0\u2026— Scott Hadland, MD (@Scott Hadland, MD) 1629229918
Congratulations!!— Patricia Arquette (@Patricia Arquette) 1629227347
Congratulations to the new dads. Welcome to the growing community of gay parents!pic.twitter.com/dnCi9icmm0— Aaron Fernandez-Wische (@Aaron Fernandez-Wische) 1629221467
Pete and Chasten Buttigieg are going to be parents, and I couldn\u2019t be happier for them.— George Takei (@George Takei) 1629222495
Reacting to the Baby Buttigieg news like\u2026.pic.twitter.com/6I839h9oDl— Jonathan Capehart (@Jonathan Capehart) 1629220919
Our family sends our best wishes to Pete and Chasten as they become fathers. Being a parent is a true joy. The newest Buttigieg is joining a family where education, public service and big dreams are valued. What a lucky kid!https://twitter.com/petebuttigieg/status/1427680484109262848\u00a0\u2026— Governor Jared Polis (@Governor Jared Polis) 1629238000
As hinted by the Secretary stating "the process isn't done yet," further details have not yet been revealed.
But if the love and admiration Pete and Chasten Buttigieg have shown each other is any indication, there is no doubt this child will have unconditional love in abundance.
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