Listen to Secretary Pete's Pride Message

The DOT boss shouted out to Marsha P. Johnson, Harvey Milk, and queer youth.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

June 01 2021 7:29 PM EST

May 31 2023 4:54 PM EST

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Pete Buttigieg, the out secretary of the Department of Transportation, filmed a Pride message where he reassured LGBTQ+ youth ostracized for their identity and promised to tackle bias at the DOT.

The former South Bend, Ind., mayor began by acknowledging how the falling rates of COVID-19 have enabled Pride celebrations to take place this year after largely being canceled in 2020. Buttigieg said the country is still crawling out of the pandemic hole, which makes this year's Pride celebrations even more relevant.

After noting how the Stonewall rebellion was led by Black trans women like Marsha P. Johnson, Buttigieg said the Pride events honoring Stonewall have become demonstrations of the community's "love, humanity, and our collective resilience."

Buttigieg then described how he would use his position at the DOT to tackle injustice by signing an "executive order banning discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation and strengthening all DOT antidiscrimination policies and practices." After quoting Harvey Milk, Buttigieg noted how he once thought his current life as an out, married politician was not possible -- and how such an achievement is still an impediment in many places around the world.

"Yet today I'm honored to serve in the president's cabinet and proud that I was sworn in with my husband, Chasten, at my side," Buttigieg said.