Get the salt folks: there’s some major gossip floating around.
Scuttlebutt site Blind Gossip reports that unnamed sources claim that another major Presidential candidate is on the verge of coming out of the closet. The reason: Buttigieg envy.
Said candidate has reportedly lived in the closet for fear that coming out as gay would harm his political career. Now, after witnessing the massive donor haul by the South Bend, IN Mayor, the closet candidate wants to come out. Having kept several girlfriends in the past, reports say he might come out as bisexual so as not to look like an opportunist or a liar.
Related: Lunatic preacher Franklin Graham says Pete Buttigieg will face “eternal damnation”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Out-gay Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has rocked the political world by ascending to the top of opinion polls for the Democratic Presidential Nomination. Along with his rising poll numbers, Buttigieg has also snagged major donations, and captured the hearts (and pocketbooks) of major gay celebrities like Ryan Murphy and Greg Berlanti.
Speculation continues over the true identity of the candidate. We at Queerty couldn’t help but notice that two other prominent Democrats, Cory Booker and John Hickenlooper, both remain single. Hickenlooper was previously married to a woman, but divorced. Rumors have long circulated about Booker’s bachelorhood, though the New Jersey Senator has denied that he’s gay.
jayceecook
Cory Booker isn’t single though. He’s been dating ?Rosario Dawson. It still could be him, not that I care, but maybe get the facts right.
JAW
jayceecook…. If you actually read the article you would have seen this:
” the closet candidate wants to come out. Having kept several girlfriends in the past, reports say he might come out as bisexual so as not to look like an opportunist or a liar.”
Also, most people consider people who are just dating are still considered single. They have only been dating since December, not long at all.
You would have also realized that the person in question may come out as Bi. So a man, say Cory Booker, dating women and perhaps also men, could be considered to be Bi
Not that you care, but seems that they may have actually gotten the facts right. We will find out when/if another candidate comes out.
AxelDC
Please tell me it’s not Biden or Sanders.
fur_hunter
It’s both of them. They have been living together secretly as lovers for decades. Yeah. Believe it.
TomOH
That would be absolutely hilarious if it was either of them. Joe Biden was a hottie in his younger days.
Herman75
Biden + Sanders = 153. My lucky number.
geb1966
A real life Grace & Frankie lol
ChuckGG
TomOH: Don’t you know it! Muy caliente!
STAMBOUL
LOL!
kcguy
It’s sexy Cory Booker. It’s a well-known fact that he is either bisexual or just acting that way but he is gay
Herman75
He went after Pompeo for anti gay policy
kcguy
It has been pretty obvious all through his political career that he is a closeted gay man
Bubbleandsqueal
Cory Booker is ALL man, and I’m the dame to prove it!
XOX, Rosario Dawson
ethan_hines
@Bubbleandsqueal I know you are just being facitious but by saying ALL MAN you are implying being anything but straight is not Manly. Which I take offense to. Thanks
Brian
Ethan Hines, get over it. Thanks.
Condor221
With that statement, I assume that you don’t feel that a gay man can be ALL MAN? Well, I beg to differ for several reasons.
fpcinnyc
I LOVE the Valley of the Dolls reference!
STAMBOUL
ethan_hines, Condor221: CHILL for FS!
Invader7
Uh oh… It’s gonna make the homophobes just crap in their pants..
Doug
I hope so!!
Marvella
It’s Booker. People in Newark have long known he was on the down low.
ShortBearBHam
I was raised in NJ. In Cory Booker’s world of Newark being gay was not something you ever mentioned. The down low was the norm.
Kangol
Cory Booker is actually from Harrington Park, NJ, a middle-class community north of Newark.
Were Cory Booker to come out now as bi or even gay, he probably wouldn’t gain much traction for the presidency, but he also would not encounter many problems with most New Jersey voters, who already had the first out gay governor in US history.
TedV
Corey Booker is gay??? Next you’ll be telling me water is wet!!
fur_hunter
There’s a Carole King song that goes. “It’s too late, baby, Yeah. It’s too late.” Yep. The bandwagon train has left the station. He should have been honest and upfront prior to becoming a candidate. Mayor Pete came out to his constituents before the second election in his town to let them know the score, realizing he could have lost the election. He could have waited and come out afterwards but he didn’t. I am very skeptical of those who lead you on and then after a time come out and say….”Oh….by the way.” Just my opinion.
Josh447
Pete didn’t escalate due to being gay. He escalated bc of his message and solid delivery that resonates. Silly to think just coming out is a boost to one’s political career. It takes a lot more than that to make the grade.
fur_hunter
Josh……Thank you. Anyone who has seen the interviews with him see that he is confident, knows what he is talking about, answers questions without beating around the bush. Yeah. He has shown he is intelligent and can stand on his own two feet.
PinkoOfTheGange
The young Midwest, veteran, intellectual, gay thing got the medias attention: his message has kept the camera on him.
OzJosh
Quite. Every second Democrat running can come out as gay, but he’ll still be The Bootyjudge.
Herman75
Yes, coming out now would be almost shady. Work that out before running for Prez.
Hdtex
The “message” of absolutely NO policy other than reaching out to Chick-fil-A?
geb1966
I think the point is more that being gay didn’t hurt him in campaigning, like the closet case assumed it would if he came out prior to this.
j0n62x
Klobuchar FTW ??
white-queer-african
Now if only the headline said it was a prominent Republican……Mike Pence immediately would have come to mind.
fur_hunter
Funny you should say that because I was going to until I re-read it that it was a Democrat. Glad someone else had the same idea. GRIN!
Bryguyf69
Yeah, have you seen the way he looks adoringly at Trump? It’s sickening. Lots of comedians have commented on it…
geb1966
Pence doesn’t have the guts
sputnik53
He’d have to ask ” Mother ” first.
lather
Hmmmm…don’t they realize people are not loving Pete because he’s gay, but because he is smart, genuine, caring, very accomplished in so many ways, and his incredibly likable & lovable husband also helps. Being gay is not the #1 thing people like about him. Nor should it be.
fur_hunter
You are totally correct. That is just what Josh said above. I believe that young people will have a huge influence in this coming election because someone’s sexual orientation is of no significance to a majority of them. They know the truth about homosexuality and know it is NOT chosen as so many religious groups keep pushing. Most see the lies being propagated by religions and could care less what they say.
Brian
No, this wouldn’t come across as opportunistic at all. Just like Joe Biden’s Anita Hill apology isn’t opportunistic. The timing is just purely coincidental.
fur_hunter
I always appreciate good sarcasm. Thank you. GRIN!
TomOH
If it’s Corey Booker, I don’t necessarily think it’s “opportunistic” if he simply points out that he himself is bisexual. It could be something a simple as saying “as a bisexual man myself…” and leave it at that. I think it would just add to the awareness and representation of the LGBTQ community among the candidates running for president to the general public.
Brian
Everything in politics is opportunistic. Even moreso when someone is trying to become the presidential nominee.
jjose712
Yeah sure.
The problem is he is not bisexual, the problem is having a fake relationship to boost your career, the problem is coming out because you think someone is stealing your spotlight.
Anyway, this is probably a totally fabricated BI, not because Booker is not gay but because he can’t be so dumb to think this could work.
The success of Buttigieg has less to do with being gay and more to do with being honest.
If Booker is gay (and the rumours are not new) he should work on coming out but right now it’s not the best moment to do it, specially when he is in a “relationship”.
The truth is Booker unlike someone like Shock has a good record on defending gay rights so people will embrace him when he comes out (in case he’ll do one day)
IWantAFullBeard
John Hickenlooper was married for years. He just recently got divorced.
I suspect it might be a female candidate.
geb1966
Because a man NEVER married a woman in the past to cover for him, right?
truthseeker
>Mayor Pete is openly gay
>Raises millions and polling 3rd
Democrats who nobody is voting for:
>”I’m gay too, guys”
Donston
The story could be BS. But I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some truth behind it. A lot of these public figures who come out as whatever to whatever extent often seem more driven by attention, “queer jealousy” and wanting to seem like they’re a part of something rather than being mostly driven by freedom, honesty and wanting to openly be with/love who they want to be with/love. From a political perspective, it’s an easy way to get some quick attention. However, it likely won’t equate to any real uptick in support, because it will seem like a ploy and an attempt to snuff out Buttigieg’s hype.
Donston
I completely agree that identity is a very personal thing. You can’t really control anyone’s sense of self, identity or when/if they choose to come out. There are many inherently bi/pan people or people who live bi lifestyles but ultimately feel more “straight” or “gay”. Just like there are heterosexuals and homosexuals that feel a part of the spectrum in whatever way to whatever capacity. Rather that affects their personal sense of self/identity or not is an individual thing. However, identity is also political, social and commercial commodities. That’s especially the case for public figures.
But none of this has much to do with this story.
funpitt412
It’s Hillary.
EZinHTown
Booker is well known. Who knew who Hickenlooper was until he announced and even then I still don’t know who he is. If someone needs to get their name out there by coming out it’s him.
jjose712
Booker is well known but he is not doing well in the polls.
Hickenlooper is in the same position that Buttigieg was months ago, and probably his candidature (like Major Pete) had more to do with increase his profile than a real chance of getting the nomination.
Thinking than Buttigieg rose in the polls just for being openly gay is a big big mistake
vancouverdoug
This isn’t very Christian of me and Pete would probably not approve, however “F-U Cory Booker” You have continuously lied for years. How ironic that Rosario plays a lesbian on Jane the Virgin and now she is your beard. Move out of the way. Ain’t nobody gonna vote for you anyway. You were given an opportunity a few months ago to come clean and you lied again.
PanzerRider
It’s got to be Beto. That self involved pretty boy has to be losing his mind that Pete is getting all the attention. Beto had 35 people show up at his latest rally at UNLV. Hahaha. 35! Is that even a rally at that point? So, Beto out desperation will probably decide to gay it up a bit.
Josh447
I had hope for Beto but Pete has eclipsed him, and others sinking in Pete’s wake.
jjose712
Yeah sure, one can sleep with a lot of men and declare himself heterosexual.
It’s the same that being dumb as a rock but declare yourself smart, or being short but declare yourself tall.
No dear, the way you identify about yourself and reality are not always the same thing
sfhairy
Pete has lived his life openly. Sorry, but you don’t deserve my vote if you couldn’t live openly.
Donston
Well, there are plenty of people who have a decent amount of sex with folks that they have little to no sexual attractions, passions, romantic interests towards. There are plenty of people who indulge long-term relationships with people that are not their overall romantic, sexual, relationship preferences. There can be some extreme contradictions when it comes to the sexual, romantic, affection, relationship sides of orientation. Everyone is motivated by different things. While fluidity has some legitimacy for many people.
This stuff is partly why identity is such an individual thing. The problem is when identity becomes almost entirely about sociology, politics and/or fear.
Bryguyf69
My guess is Cory Booker. More than any other candidate, Booker makes a point of including the LGBT community in his congressional interactions. He’s mentioned gays and homophobia in every congressional hearing that i’ve watched. For example he grilled Pompeo on it, forcing him to declare — on record — that be would not discriminate against gays as the Secretary of State.
For gays who say that they wouldn’t vote for him because he was/is closeted, it’s too bad that you’re so myopic. I don’t vote based on a candidate’s personal life, but rather his/her public actions and policies. And in terms of LGBT issues, Booker is arguably on top, always including the terms, “LGBT” and “gay” whenever he can — probably even more than Buttigieg.
Bryguyf69
It’s probably a made-up story. If any of the candidates have a secret gay past, don’t you think that an ex would have come to the press by now?