Pete Buttigieg Becomes 1st Openly Gay Person Confirmed To Cabinet Seat
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg to lead the Transportation Department, making him the first openly gay person confirmed to a Cabinet seat.
The former South Bend, Indiana, mayor was confirmed 86-13 in the upper chamber. Sen. Krysten Sinema (D-Ariz.), the first openly bisexual U.S. senator, announced the vote.
“I’m honored and humbled by today’s vote in the Senate ― and ready to get to work,” Buttigeig tweeted later Tuesday.
Senate confirms Pete Buttigieg as secretary of transportation 86-13.
He becomes the first out LGBTQ Cabinet secretary confirmed by the Senate. pic.twitter.com/hx8ZNxImz5— The Recount (@therecount) February 2, 2021
LGBTQ rights advocates cheered Buttigieg’s historic confirmation.
“This confirmation breaks through a barrier that has existed for too long, where LGBTQ identity served as an impediment to nomination or confirmation at the highest level of government,” Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David said in a statement.
Richard Grenell, who briefly served as acting director of national intelligence during the Trump administration, was an openly gay member of Cabinet. Unlike Buttigieg, he was never confirmed by the Senate.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
