LGBT History Month Launch

Frank Bruni is the first gay columnist for The New York Times. He is one of the most impactful commentators on gay equality and the best-selling author of three books.

Bruni earned a master’s degree in journalism with highest honors from Columbia University and started his career at the New York Post. He moved to the Detroit Free Press in 1990 where, in 1992, he became a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his profile of a child molester. Bruni joined The New York Times in 1995, where he served as a White House correspondent covering George W. Bush. He became a restaurant critic before The Times named him an op-ed writer in 2011. He left his official post at The Times in 2021 to accept an endowed chair in journalism at Duke University. He continues to write for The Times and contributes to CNN.

Pete Buttigieg is the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and the first openly LGBTQ person to serve in the U.S. Cabinet. His swearing in took place in February 2021. In 2019 he became the youngest and the first married gay person to run for president of the United States. Previously, he served two terms as the first openly gay mayor of his hometown of South Bend, Indiana.

Secretary Buttigieg served for seven years as an officer in the Navy Reserve, taking a leave of absence from his mayoral duties for deployment to Afghanistan. A Harvard graduate, he earned his master’s degree from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He speaks eight languages, including French, Spanish, Maltese and Arabic.

Secretary Buttigieg lives with his husband, Chasten, in Washington, D.C.

Chasten Buttigieg is a teacher, a writer, an LGBTQ rights advocate and the husband of Pete Buttigieg.

Born in Michigan, Chasten received his bachelor’s degree in theater and global studies from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and a master’s degree in education from DePaul University. He met Pete Buttigieg on a dating app, and they married in June 2018. Chasten served as first gentleman of South Bend, Indiana, beside Mayor Pete, until January 2020.

Chasten taught junior-high humanities and theater in Indiana before taking a break to lead his husband’s presidential campaign. His memoir “I Have Something to Tell You,” published in 2020, about growing up gay in the Midwest and his life with Pete, became an instant New York Times best seller.

Bob Casey was elected to the U.S. Senate representing Pennsylvania in 2006. A moderate-to-conservative Democrat, he has worked to protect children and invest in early education; build the economy, jobs programs and infrastructure; protect national security; and promote honesty and accountability in government. He has been a vocal supporter of marriage equality and helped repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Senator Casey served as Pennsylvania’s state treasurer from 2005 to 2006 and auditor general from 1997 to 2005. He received his undergraduate degree from the College of the Holy Cross and his law degree from Catholic University of America.