Pete Buttigieg becomes first out gay person to be confirmed to US cabinet
A historic first.
Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: wiki
Pete Buttigieg has become the first out gay person to be confirmed to the US cabinet.
The former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was appointed United States Secretary of Transportation yesterday, also becoming the youngest member of President Joe Biden’s cabinet.
The 39-year-old – a former Democratic presidential candidate who waa named Attitude’s Person of the Year last month – was approved by an 86-13 Senate vote.
The politician will oversee an agency of 55,000 people and $87 billion (£63.78b) in funding, and will focus on all matters transportation, including its effect on climate change.
“I’m honored and humbled by today’s vote in the Senate—and ready to get to work”
Buttigieg, who was Biden’s pick for the role, later said on Twitter: “I’m honored and humbled by today’s vote in the Senate – and ready to get to work.”
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The move follows Buttigieg’s confirmation hearing last month, at which he thanked his husband Chasten.
While the first out gay person to be confirmed, Buttigieg is not the first out gay person to serve at cabinet level. Richard Grenfell, who is gay, briefly served in 2020 as acting Director of National Intelligence, a US cabinet-level office.
Meanwhile, Alejandro Mayorkas was yesterday confirmed as Homeland Security Secretary.
The appointments follow the inauguration of Biden on Wednesday, 20 January in Washington DC.
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