POLITICS
Pete Buttigieg Confi rmed
as Transportation Secretary
Pete Buttigieg ran for president in 2020.
BY TAT BELLAMY-WALKER
Mayor Pete is now Secretary
Pete.
The US Senate confi
rmed Pete Buttigieg
as transportation secretary on February
2, making him the nation’s
fi rst out gay cabinet member to be
confi rmed.
With out bisexual US Senator
Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona announcing
the vote, the 39-year-old
former mayor of South Bend, Indiana
was approved by a 86-13 margin.
One legislator abstained from
voting during the session.
In a statement on Twitter, Buttigieg,
a former presidential candidate,
said he was “honored” and
“humbled” by the Senate’s confi
rmation. All Democrats voted in
favor of Buttigieg’s confi rmation,
while a majority of Republicans
voted against him.
The “no” votes included Republicans
Tom Cotton of Arkansas,
Ted Cruz of Texas, Bill Cassidy of
Louisiana, Roger Marshall of Kansas,
Rick Scott of Florida, Tommy
Tuberville of Alabama, Richard
Shelby of Alabama, Josh Hawley
of Missouri, Marsha Blackburn of
Tennessee, Marco Rubio of Florida,
Tim Scott of South Carolina, Bill
Hagerty of Tennessee, and James
Lankford of Oklahoma.
This historic confi rmation came
nearly two weeks after the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation approved Buttigieg’s
nomination for the position.
In December, then-President-Elect
Joe Biden announced Buttigieg as
REUTERS/STEFANI REYNOLDS
a nominee for the Department of
Transportation (DOT)
LGBTQ organizations and politicians
are welcoming Biden’s confi rmation.
The LGBTQ Victory Fund,
a national group that works to elect
out queer candidates, posted “representation
matters” alongside a
video of Buttigieg helping a nineyear
old boy come out as gay during
a rally.
The Congressional LGBTQ
Equality Caucus also heaped
praise on the new transportation
secretary. Equality Caucus Chair
David Cicilline, who represents
Rhode Island and formerly served
as the mayor of Providence, described
Buttigieg as a competent
leader who is prepared to take on
the new role in the Biden administration.
“I am proud to congratulate Mayor
Pete Buttigieg on his confi rmation
by the Senate to serve as secretary
of transportation,” Cicilline
said in a written statement. “As a
former mayor, he is incredibly wellqualifi
ed to serve in this role and
help rebuild our country’s bridges,
roads, rail lines, and waterways.
As the fi rst openly LGBTQ person
to be confi rmed for a position in the
Cabinet, he will remain a visible
role model for young LGBTQ people
in our country. This is important
progress for America and a very
proud day for our community.”
Locally, out gay State Senator
Brad Hoylman also tweeted about
Buttigieg’s confi rmation.
“Congrats Secretary Pete,” he
wrote. “Let me know if you need
any help improving the subways.”
THANK YOU TO OUR 2021 CLASS
OF NYC WOMEN OF IMPACT
The American Heart Association’s Women of
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February 11 - February 24, 2 18 021 | GayCityNews.com
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