Pete Buttigieg’s husband, Chasten, marked the arrival of the New Year by posting a new photo of the couple with their twins on social media.
The accompanying caption read, “2021 brought with it many challenges, but it also gave us a lot to be grateful for. #HappyNewYear, friends. Here’s to a peaceful and joyful 2022!”
The photo shows Chasten and Pete holding twins Penelope and Joseph (nicknamed ‘Gus’).
View this post on Instagram
Among the scores of well-wishers in the comments section was one hateful remark, and Chasten did not let it slide.
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“Someone gave these ****** kids???” commented a troll by the name of Andre Kravchenko, according to a screenshot Chasten posted to his Instagram Story. “Holy ****.”
“In the year 2022, you’d think these people would be wise enough to post their homophobia from an alt account, not one easily connected to their job,” Chasten wrote.
“Rather embarrassing for @AmericanHomes4Rent, a company that claims to be an equal housing provider and one that’s ‘building a culture of inclusion and belonging.’
“I worry for your tenants.”
Soon after the post, Chasten’s followers began flooding the comments section of American Homes 4 Rent’s Instagram feed, calling out Kravchenko’s message. Kravchenko’s own account has since been removed.
Another company Kravchenko is associated with, Seattle-based Skyline Properties, distanced itself from Kravchenko in a comment.
“To all who are posting,” they wrote. “Skyline could not possibly know what 1,200 of our independent contractors could be doing at any given moment. There is no way on gods [sic] green earth that you, me air [sic] anyone else could know in advance what someone might think or post. Now that I am aware of the post I will have a conversation with the broker. Thank our [sic] for letting me know. Scott Hotes. Skyline.”
That got another response from Chasten, who posted: “This defensive response tells us exactly how that ‘conversation’ is going to go.”
After “properly reviewing” the situation, and perhaps trying to avoid escalating things even further, Skyline announced it had fired Kravchenko and apologized to the Buttigiegs.
Chasten posted the company’s response, which was thankfully spellchecked this time:
American Homes 4 Rent, for its part, issued a statement claiming Kravchenko has not been employed with the company for over five years.
“We were saddened to learn that a former employee—or someone using their account—recently posted an offensive comment aimed at @ chasten.buttigieg and @pete.buttigieg,” they wrote.
“We want to clarify that, despite this individual’s outdated LinkedIn account information, they have not been employed by our company for 5+ years, and further do not represent our beliefs and policies. We do not approve of nor do we condone discriminatory language or behavior.”
Cam
Keep bigotry expensive!
And Chasten was right, from the first response you could tell the company was trying to sweep the thing away.
Chrisk
It’s clear that the guy has animus towards a certain group of people ie their customers. A smart ass response was not how you deal with.
Chrisk
I’m glad they finally caught up to this andre krachenko shithead. Good luck explaining why you got fired to your next employer. Oh that’s right. Google is all they need. Lol
graphicjack
Can queer media PLEASE stop propping up politicians just because they are queer and focus on their policies? I remember how publications like Out, the Advocate and Queerty practically jizzed with enthusiasm about Kristen Sinema for being a bisexual, maverick ‘fashion icon’ and look what’s become of her now… blocking anything even remotely progressive that could help out her own community and constituents.
Mayo Pete is equally a huge phony who stands for nothing but his own ambition. He betrayed his own black police chief who was getting harassed by racist police officers and fired him because his donors told him to. He played along with the corporate wing of the party and dropped out of the primary as soon as party hacks decided Biden was the only one who could take out Bernie. So now the US is struck with a weak, feeble president who will do nothing except maintain the status quo, failing to deliver on any of the promises he made… Pete isn’t responsible for this, but he’s part of the problem.
Again, quit trying to make these politicians heroes just because they’re queer… they’re political hacks and as corrupt as all the rest of them. Fluff pieces like this only help to prop them up without examining what their actual policies and actions are. Not saying we should be cool with the vitriol and homophobia he and his husband faces, but in this insane political climate, virtually everyone is getting hate and death threats… it’s sadly a part of being in office now.
butchqueen
Should we have graciously invited trump in to collectively fist us for another 4 years? Is that what you’re saying, honey?
BrodyB
OMG….. How sad so much ignorance!
Cam
Weird how you left out the part where the Police Chief was fired because the FBI was investigating him for illegally taping phone calls and the city ended up losing a lawsuit and paying out $500,000 to the people he taped.
chat fisher
Get over yourself you righteous asshole.
JPB
“So now the US is struck with a weak, feeble president who will do nothing except maintain the status quo, failing to deliver on any of the promises he made.”
What utter garbage – Biden has accomplished more in one year than Trum did in a lifetime, despite the rethugs opposition. Listen to the facts not the lies.
carllonghorn
Ah, just another self-indulging gay male without a clue about how the world really works. You claim you want pure gay politicians that only serve you – guess what, to be elected, gay or not, these folks have to appeal to other people and other issues, not just the 5%. Mayor Pete has done an admirable job straddling the fence between the LGBT world and the very different political mainstream, representing us in a positive light. Your post is likely a trolling number not much better than the troll this story is about – support your community or get a MAGA hat and go sit in the cesspool.
Cam
@JPB
The election was between Biden and Trump. If you’re going to now bring out a new screename that is pretending to be liberal, at least pretend to not be trolling for Trump.
James Hart
graphic jack:
You are right. Pete Buttigieg is not a progressive. Prior to his election as mayor, he worked diligently for a brokerage firm on Wall Street and is in bed with the corporate wing of the Democrat Party. He loves capitalism and hates socialism and economic justice. He clearly is the opposite of AOC. However, it’s too early to judge where he eventually lands on the ideological spectrum, especially if he runs for POTUS again.
As far as Chasten Buttigieg is concerned, he is an unaccomplished man who only gets press because of his connection to Pete. He’s even worse than Trump’s wife because at least she had a successful modeling career before she married him. On the other hand, Chasten was raised as a hick in Michigan and has virtually nothing on his resume.
SDR94103
shut up.
SamB
GraphicJack: Gay politicians are glorious, they need to be championed and universally admired for their strength and courage, regardless of being ineffectual in their positions. I fully support gay media ignoring accountability, to concentrate on how picture perfect their families are.
Mack
Just another rightwing troll hitting the sites.
barryaksarben
oh grow up. Of course after a lifetime of not having NO power or any kind we may a overreact and give the benefit of the doubt to OUT pols. If you know anything about gay history there were many established gay pols in San Francisco who hated Harvey Milk. YES. Ms Smegma fooled a hell of alot of people and not just gay people. I admire Mayor Pete even tho he is not as progressive as I would like but he is an honorable man who SERVED this nation in the armed forces. Which arm did you serve in. I am thrilled that he and his husband are providing our gay youth such incredible role models. ANd as another person said at least we dont have that walking sewer-rat Jabba the Maralago in charge of ANYTHING. I love that Chaston called out this ignorant deplorable who was TOO damned stup[id to not post from his public screen
Essie
I agree with you about Mayor Pete. He has never been an advocate for Black people and those he governed in Indiana know this. He is a complete phony . . . a very ambitious phony who will probably go very far in politics because of all the White gays who apparently adore him.
James Hart
Essie:
You are right. Pete is only interested in impressing rich, white gay men and his Wall Street masters. That’s why I doubt he’ll get the Democratic nomination for POTUS unless he morphs overnight into a male AOC.
[email protected]
“struck with a weak, feeble president” are you f’n serious?
Hank31
Is it me or is it disturbing and creepy that Chasten’s immediate response was to go after the guy’s employment? There’s no substantive response to the homophobia. No attempt to educate either the homophobe himself or the wider Insta audience. No information provided about gay parenting outcomes, which are equal to (and in some studies, superior to), outcomes for parenting in traditional households.
No, the instant response is to “get him” by making him unemployed. An eagerness to weaponize financial vulnerability and poverty. And then he misidentifies the employer and sends online mobs to the wrong company. And then he attacks the second company for defending itself with the very reasonable point that they can’t know in advance what independent contractors are going to post on their own time. I doubt that any of this is helpful to Pete Buttigieg. It raises a question of whether a possible President Buttigieg would bring with him to the White House a vindictive, vengeful First Gentleman.
LMG
Hank31 – It IS you! Your comment only shows that you’re another loony tunes. Go back under your bridge where all trolls belong. Payback’s a bitch. I’d like to see more comments of the kind made by Chasten. You want to open your big mouth then be prepared to pay the consequences. Your remark about what Chasten would be as “First Gentleman” is so far off the wall that methinks you’ve been spending your time on Earth2 these past five years. Same goes for James Hart. The bridge underpath must be getting too damp and the trolls are out trolling.
Mack
I see the right wing trolls are alive and well today. Guess they didn’t get the invite to Trump’s nazi celebration tomorrow.
DarkZephyr
@Hank31
Definitely just you, and this little post of yours shows us your true colors. You aren’t JUST a repugnant monster who is against effeminate gay men, but a repellent monster who is against *all* gay men. You are no LGBT person, you are an anti-gay troll.
Fname Optional Lname
Yes, it’s you!
James Hart
I have nothing personally against Chasten, I just see him as an unaccomplished gold-digger.
Cam
Is it me or is it disturbing and creepy that the old burned out screename of Hank31 thinks people in here don’t recognize it as one of the same old right wing troll screenames that ALWAYS attack LGBTQ people and defends bigots?
LMG
graphicjack is really a jackass!! He doesn’t even know that Kristen is Kyrsten Sinema, though she is so delusional and silly, it makes no difference. Graphiccomic should pay attention to his Rupooplican loonies and save his nonsensical comments for them. Next time when he goes to Mar-a-Lago he should be sure to kiss The Donald’s ring or whatever golfing guy shoves in his face.
twomen4u
I had an adopted daughter so I know the joys of being a parent and what a privilege it is to adopt. Those two children have no idea as to how lucky they are. Those babies have found a open and loving home and we should be supporting their parents not insulting them. They do not have a way, yet, to physically have a child but they opened their home. Having worked with the Foster Care system most people will only adopt one child at a time even twins. I know they were surprised when they were presented with twins, but what a beautiful surprise.
God forgive that ignorant man and his unsolicited hurtful remarks. I had three children with my daughter right in the middle. I know some of the feelings that I know these wonderful parents are having as my own mother does not believe in adoption and I had to deal with that, but deal I did.
James Hart
“They do not have a way, YET, to physically have a child but they opened their home.”
HUH?
I’m gay, but I have no delusion that two men – on their own and without the help of a woman – can birth children.
I guess you’re a denier of science like the Republicans who deny climate change or refuse to get vaccinated.
Cam
@James Hart
Cute when the right wing troll account purposely pretends to misunderstand a post so it can rant.
James Hart
Cam, since you are a left-wing troll, you should know all about that.
GayVeteranOfcr
Comparing spouses of people, if one compares Donald Trump’s “successful modeling career” to Chasten Buttigieg, one should note that her career was spent in large part, posing for seductive nude photos. For all we know, she’s a graduate of the KGB Sparrow School for aspiring models.
James Hart
She still has a resume. Chasten has none.
Cam
@James Hart
Except Melania doesn’t have a resume. It’s funny, ANY other model, ANY of them, you can find their pictures online for the multiple ads, catalogs, etc… that they have done. Melania was supposedly a successful model, and yet there are approximately 1-2 photos of her doing any modeling work that wasn’t a nude shot in a porn mag that was actually an escort advertising venue.
So please, by all means, tell us what Melania’s resume contains….
jscotty
Pete deserves someone cuter.
James Hart
Pete isn’t a handsome Mr. America either.
jscotty
@jameshart. No, Pete isn’t a handsome Mr. America but he’s certainly very attractive and fit (yes, I’m being profoundly shallow, but I assume most of us will grant his intellectual bona fides). But Chasten… He may be sweet, bright, supportive, et al. Yet IMHO he gives ammunition to the right-wing trolls who claim Pete isn’t gay. Because I can’t imagine sex in that bedroom (nor do I want to, lol).
James Hart
Hey, jscotty:
I disagree. Pete’s appearance looks very average to me. However, I do think he’s very intelligent.
If he hadn’t come out as gay, he’d be back in Indiana. Similarly, If Obama hadn’t been African American, he’d still be a US Senator representing Illinois – even Bill Clinton said as much in 2008.
Identity politics plays a big part in today’s political environment.
stafcoyote
The trolls are either Trumpist fascists or hardcore Leninist supporters of that tiresome loudmouth Leninist loudmouth, that shtetl schnorrer, Bernard Sanders.
Either way, the trolls of the right or the left are equally objectionable; Chasten Buttigieg should be afforded his own agency. Blaming him for Pete Buttigieg’s purported shortcomings is misandrist nonsense.
winemaker
Somehow i can’t believe the gay community still supports joey and heels up. Really what have these buffoons done for America or anyone else n their almost year in office. I’ll wait for a credible answer but won’t hold my breath: , too late, answer NOTHING, NADA, ZIPPO, ZILCH and BUPKUS, other than sit on their asses other than sit on their asses and let America become the laughing stock of the free world and a joke among out allies. To think we have to deal with these clowns for another 3 years plus is truly scary.
DarkZephyr
I see no reason to stop supporting this gay brother of mine and so I won’t.
Cam
Oh look, the right wing troll switched from it’s “HAnk31” name to it’s “Winemaker” name so it could attack them again.
We get it, you’re here to ALWAYS attack out of the closet LGBTQ people. Please tell Putin to hire smarter trolls.
James Hart
winemaker:
Lest we forget that Biden/Harris gave us the mess in Afghanistan, the highest inflation in 40 years, 2 million more illegal aliens, a shortage of food staples in many supermarkets, higher gas prices, Omicron running amok (Biden promised and was elected on ending Covid), Biden has no federal plan to end Covid (which he said he had when he ran), Biden didn’t raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans, and Biden’s Green New Deal went down the tubes. No wonder the Republicans will win the House and Senate in 2022.
CityguyUSA
The question is what would happen if it weren’t a cabinet level federal politician’s husband??
DarkZephyr
I don’t think that is “the question”, really. For my part, I’m glad he used his platform to stop homophobia in its tracts. The fact that you put two question marks after your sentence indicates that you were really emphatic about it. You even went so far as to call it “THE question”. I can’t help but be intrigued by the fact that homophobia itself apparently concerns you less than the fact that famous people have large and influential platforms.