Pete Buttigieg hits back at conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh’s homophobic comments
The out Democratic presidential candidate has been criticised for his lack of LGBTQ issues
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Pete Buttigieg hits back at conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh’s recent homophobic comments.
The out Democratic presidential candidate came under fire by the conservative radio host who said that American voters are ‘still not ready to elect a gay guy kissing his husband on the debate stage’.
Limbaugh went on to question how Buttigieg kissing his husband, Chasten Buttigieg, would play out with American voters if Mayor Pete was to go against Donald Trump in the election in November.
On Sunday (February 16), the former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, hit back at Limbaugh and said he isn’t going to take lectures on ‘family values’ from him.
View this post on Instagram
He told CNN: “Well, I love my husband. I’m faithful to my husband.
“On stage we usually just go for a hug. But I love him very much, and I’m not going to take lectures on family values from the likes of Rush Limbaugh.”
Many have criticised the 38-year-old’s position as a centrist candiate who’s had less to say on LGBTQ issues during the campaign than heterosexual rivals such as Elizabeth Warren, who’s led the way on issues including greater access to healthcare and ending the epidemic of violence against black trans women.
As the Democratic race heats up, it’s an issue that’s set to cause increasing conflict within the community – and LGBTQ stars including American Horror Story’s Billy Eichner and Angelica Ross have already been debating Mr Buttigieg’s merits and shortcomings on Twitter in the wake of the latest news from Iowa.
“Pete’s rise *is* remarkable”, wrote Eichner, 41, on February 4.
“I know some of you don’t care or don’t think it counts, but history will see it as a rather monumental step forward for the perception of how far an openly gay man can connect on a national level. You don’t have to vote for him to acknowledge that.”
Pete’s rise *is* remarkable. I know some of you don’t care or don’t think it counts, but history will see it as a rather monumental step forward for the perception of how far an openly gay man can connect on a national level. You don’t have to vote for him to acknowledge that.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) February 4, 2020
Ross, who as well as starring in American Horror Story has helped lead the way for transgender representation as part of hit ballroom drama Pose, challenged Eichner’s comments soon after.
She said: “Yes of course it’s public knowledge but we all know Pete is selling a respectable type of gay that in the end does us no favors, especially us black lgbtq folks, sex workers, etc.”
Is Pete all that “openly gay” when white people mistakenly vote for him cause they didn’t know that? Yes of course it’s public knowledge but we all know Pete is selling a respectable type of gay that in the end does us no favors, especially us black lgbtq folks, sex workers, etc https://t.co/Y152LTIUX7
— Angelica Ross (@angelicaross) February 5, 2020