MSNBC Commentator: Pete Buttigieg Flaunts His Gayness

Florida attorney and conservative radio host Chandelle Summer claims presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg flaunts his sexuality by being out.

Speaking on MSNBC on Sunday, Summer said Buttigieg makes his sexuality a "huge issue" by campaigning with his spouse, Chasten.

"He's brought his husband up on stage," she said. "They shared a kiss during his announcement."

Summer appeared in the same segment as Matthew Vines, author of God and the Gay Christian. Both came on purportedly to discuss Franklin Graham's recent comments about Buttigieg's sexuality.

Vines later called Summer's remarks "pretty offensive."

But Summer said on the segment that it's Buttigieg who opens himself up to criticism by being so open about his sexuality.

"He could have ignored it," she said of Buttigieg. "He could have said nothing and people would speculate about it. But he made it an issue."

Summer does not believe Buttigieg's presence in the race will draw many LGBTQ Republicans to cross the aisle and support him.

"I don't think there will be an exodus of gay Republicans," she said. "I don't think there are many. At least, I think it's a constituency that is naturally going to go toward the Democratic Party candidate."

She dismissed suggestions Buttigieg has not flaunted his sexuality any more than a straight candidate mentioning a spouse.

"Let's be real. This is not a typical candidate," she said. "We haven't had a gay candidate ever in the history of the United States."

That's not true, though. Fred Karger ran for the Republican nomination in 2012 and recently wrote about his experiences in an essay for The Advocate.

Many historians also agree America likely elected its first gay president in the 1850s with James Buchanan, who allegedly had a long-time relationship with Sen. Rufus King.