Quote of the Day

[Pete] Buttigieg’s ability to articulate his sexual orientation through the lens of faith has captured public attention and drawn him into a theological spat with Vice President Mike Pence. The fact that the first openly gay major presidential candidate is also a Christian is indeed remarkable, a milestone in the visibility of L.G.B.T. people of faith. Yet it is also the result of a process that has been taking place in American religion for decades.

Pete Buttigieg is not the first openly gay Christian. Rather, he is the product of a slow-moving but steady trend among faith communities to acknowledge the inherent theological value of the spiritual experience of L.G.B.T. people. In the process, American religion is becoming less straight. Mr. Buttigieg’s popularity demonstrates the appetite for a mainstream narrative of religion beyond reflexive associations with social conservatism. But it also signals the budding of a queerer soul of this society.

– Steven Paulikas
Excerpted from “Mayor Pete and the
Queering of the American Soul”
The New York Times
April 17, 2019

Above: Pete Buttigieg with his spouse Chasten Glezman – April 14, 2019. (Photographer unknown)

Related Off-site Links:
Pete Buttigieg Is Emerging As a Serious Contender for the Democratic Nomination – The Economist (April 12, 2019).
Pete Buttigieg Formally Announces 2020 Presidential Run – Sara Boboltz (The Huffington Post, April 14, 2019).
Pete Buttigieg and Rachel Maddow Candidly Discuss Coming Out: “It Would Have Killed Me to Be Closeted” – Shira Tarlo (Salon, April 16, 2019).
Pete Buttigieg Is Pushing Back on Mike Pence and a Christianity That Does Not Support LGBT Rights – Eugene Scott (The Washington Post, April 8, 2019).
All About Pete – Nathan J. Robinson (Current Affairs, March 29, 2019).
Have You Heard? Pete Buttigieg Is Really Smart – Liza Featherstone (Jacobin, April 1, 2019).
Pete Buttigieg Was an Effective Mayor — With a Gaping Blind Spot – Michael Hobbes (The Huffington Post, April 16, 2019).
Buttigieg Is the Democrats' Flavour of the Month. Just Don't Ask What He Stands For – Nathan Robinson (The Guardian, April 16, 2019).

UPDATES: ‘I Ain’t Ever Seen the Dude’ – Residents of South Bend’s Poor Neighborhoods Say Democratic Presidential Hopeful Pete Buttigieg Left Them Behind – Tucker Higgins (CNBC, April 22, 2019).
What Would Black America Be Like Under President Pete? Ask South Bend – Jason Johnson (The Root, April 23, 2019).
Pete Buttigieg Says Incarcerated People Shouldn't Get to Vote – Luke Darby (GQ, April 23, 2019).
This Embarrassing Exchange Tells You Everything You Need to Know About Pete Buttigieg – Shane Ryan (Vox, April 23, 2019).
America Is At a Gay Rights Crossroads, Thanks to Pete Buttigieg and the Supreme Court – Steven Petrow (USA Today, April 23, 2019).
Elizabeth Warren's the Professor and Pete Buttigieg Is the Charismatic Student Without His Homework. Guess Who Voters Like Best? – Nia-Malika Henderson (CNN, April 23, 2019).
Pete Buttigieg Is The Only Top 2020 Democrat Taking Money From Washington Lobbyists – Kevin Robillard (The Huffington Post, April 24, 2019).
Pete Buttigieg’s Bad Take on Bernie Sanders – Greg Sargent (The Washington Post, April 24, 2019).
Pete Buttigieg’s Campaign Website Has a Color Scheme Page, But Not an Issues Page – Katelyn Kivel (GritPost, April 24, 2019).
Buttigieg Campaign Says It Will Return, No Longer Accept Lobbyist Donations – Tal Axelrod (The Hill, April 26, 2019).
Why I’m Not Here for Pete Buttigieg’s Moderate Politics in the 2020 Primaries – Lucy Diavolo (Teen Vogue, May 10, 2019).
Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg Are Not to Be Trusted – Norman Solomon (Common Dreams, January 2, 2020).
Pete Buttigieg Proved Last Night That He's Not the President America Wants or Needs – Carli Pierson (Independent, January 15, 2020).
Buttigieg Is a Wall Street Democrat Beholden to Corporate Interests – Kenneth Peres (Common Dreams, February 17, 2020).
As a Corporate Tool, Buttigieg Is Now a Hammer to Bash Bernie Sanders – Norman Solomon (Common Dreams, February 24, 2020).
“Loyal Soldier”? Ahead of Super Tuesday, Pete Buttigieg to End Presidential Bid – Jon Queally (Common Dreams, March 1, 2020).
Buttigieg Drops Out of Presidential Race – Elena Schneider (Politico, March 1, 2020).
Pete Buttigieg Ends Historic Presidential Bid – Barbara Sprunt, Benjamin Swasey and Sam Gringlas (NPR News, March 1, 2020).
“Political Consolation Prize”? President-Elect Biden Picks Buttigieg as Transportation Secretary Despite His Lack of Relevant Experience – Jake Johnson (Common Dreams, December 15, 2020).

For more coverage at The Wild Reed of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, see:
• Marianne Williamson: Quote of the Day – November 5, 2018
• Jacob Weindling: Quote of the Day – November 19, 2018
• Something to Think About – February 19, 2019
• Quotes(s) of the Day – February 26, 2019
• Quote of the Day – March 2, 2019
• Talkin’ ’Bout An Evolution: Marianne Williamson’s Presidential Bid
• Why Marianne Williamson Is a Serious and Credible Presidential Candidate

Opening image: Pete Buttigieg announcing his 2020 campaign for the Democratic nomination – South Bend, Indiana, April 14, 2019. (Photographer unknown)