Pete Buttigieg Swoons Over Ben Platt's 'Somewhere'

Buttigieg elaborates that his husband, Chasten Buttigieg, often blasts Platt's music.

Tracy E. Gilchrist

Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP of Editorial and Special Projects at equalpride. A media veteran, she writes about the intersections of LGBTQ+ equality and pop culture. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Advocate and the first feminism editor for the 55-year-old brand. In 2017, she launched the company's first podcast, The Advocates. She is an experienced broadcast interviewer, panel moderator, and public speaker who has delivered her talk, "Pandora's Box to Pose: Game-changing Visibility in Film and TV," at universities throughout the country.

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Tracy E. Gilchrist

July 26 2019 11:28 AM EST

July 26 2019 11:33 AM EST

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South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg was the guest of honor at a campaign fundraiser for his presidential run Thursday in Los Angeles where out Tony-winner Ben Platt serenaded the crowd with the love song "Somewhere" from West Side Story.

The event, with a price tag of $250-$2,800, was held at the Hancock Park-area home of NBC Universal Chairman of Global Distribution Kevin MacLellan and his partner, Brian Curran. Hollywood heavy hitters including Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Sean Hayes, Chelsea Handler, Jason Bateman, and more were on the official invite, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Following Platt's performance, Buttigieg took the stage to praise the performance and note that he's familiar with the Dear Evan Hansen star from his husband, Chasten Buttigieg, blasting his music around the house.

"Thank you for that. We don't get that at every fundraiser. You sound even better here than you do on the speakers in our house when Chasten fires them up."

The evening event wasn't the only Buttigieg fundraiser on Thursday. There was a luncheon at the elite San Vicente Bungalows West Hollywood hosted by former Ambassador to the Bahamas Nicole Avant. Later in the afternoon, he attended a fundraiser at the home of Ease Entertainment's Mike Rose and Ruben Rodriguez.