Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic political strategist based in South Carolina, made some head scratching remarks about Pete Buttigieg to Vanity Fair earlier this week. Now, he’s clarifying what he meant. And it looks like it was all a misunderstanding.
In the article, Seawright was quoted as calling Buttigieg’s sexuality “a distraction” that “presents a challenge” for his presidential campaign.
He then suggested being gay was a choice when he said, “He can share his story, and talk about how the things he will fight for will impact communities regardless of who he chooses to love.”
After that, Seawright advised that if Buttigieg wants to succeed, he should quit talking about his personal life and instead focus on “the issues of the day.”
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The comments, paired with the fact that Seawrite is a member of a church that condemns same-sex relationships, left many people with an uneasy feeling.
Related: Democratic strategist calls Pete Buttigieg’s sexuality a “distraction” and being gay a choice
Seawright has since clarified his remarks in a series of tweets posted earlier today.
In the first tweet, he writes: “Unfortunately the words I used in a recent @VanityFair article about @PeteButtigieg communicated the opposite of what I intended to say.”
Unfortunately the words I used in a recent @VanityFair article about @PeteButtigieg communicated the opposite of what I intended to say.
— Antjuan Seawright (@antjuansea) August 22, 2019
He followed that up with a second tweet that read: “I know that being gay is not a choice, and I support full equality and acceptance for LGBTQ people no matter who they are, who they love, where they live, or how they identify.”
I know that being gay is not a choice, and I support full equality and acceptance for LGBTQ people no matter who they are, who they love, where they live, or how they identify.
— Antjuan Seawright (@antjuansea) August 22, 2019
We appreciate Seawright taking the time to clarify things, as well as his vocal support for LGBTQ people. Miscommunications and misinterpretations happen from time to time, and it looks like this was one of those times.
Related: New Republic in crisis mode after publishing homophobic hit piece about Pete Buttigieg’s sex life
sanfranca1
I don’t believe a word of it.
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LukeHill1389
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Jenniferp412
Pete cannot get the black vote! He has divided his own town and black people do not like him or the job he has done as mayor.
Flamingo Falls
Hello, again, Log Cabin troll. You’re awfully busy, today.
youarederanged
Um did you see the interactions he had with his black constituents just a few weeks ago? Many of them do not support him. He’s sort of like the average commenter on this site. A privileged white gay who goes around talking about how his rights are going to be taken away, blah blah blah. Meanwhile blacks in his community and elsewhere who experience actual discrimination everyday in regular life are giving him a big eye roll.
Cam
My My My the right wing troll accounts certainly seem scared of Pete.
Also, isn’t it interesting that the same screenames that regularly attack black people on here now claim to speak for them?
youarederanged
@Cam go read the comments on the Karamo story and then get back to us on who is actually attacking blacks. Hint, it’s the Dems. You know, the ones who supported slavery and wanted to keep blacks on the plantation. Good try though.
Chrisk
Actually the Democrats were more Republican in those days before the great migration of racists to the Republican party following the civil rights act.
youarederanged
Chrisk, sorry bud, but you’re desire to dismiss the longstanding history of racism in the Democratic party is on you. Republicans and Democrats have long histories of racism, supporting racists, and being against LGBTQ rights. It’s funny how modern Dems just look over that and act like it’s okay for their side to have done it, but not the other. I for one would never join either one of the parties.
RandomGuy
That apology seems a bit…disingenuous.
Showrunner
I’m with Antjuan on this, Pete’s sexuality isn’t the reason he’s not connecting with black voters. It’s a distraction from the real reason he isn’t connecting. We don’t trust him. He has that Bill Clinton sell out quality about him. We expect him to turn on us to help white voters when he was supposed to be helping us.
witchboybrian
When people show you who they are, believe them.
His comments, coupled with his membership in an anti gay church tells me he meant what he said and this is just spin control.
Kangol2
If Mayor Pete gets the nomination, he’ll win the Black vote, overwhelmingly. You can bet it!
truthseeker
@Kangol2
LOL. If Mayor Pete gets the nomination, he’ll get the lowest turnout of black voters of any Democrat in the past few decade. The black voters of his own city are already turning on him
Chrisk
truthseeker
Yes you’re absolutely right. They know Donnie boy is so much better for them. Eye roll.
truthseeker
@Chrisk
Well, under Trump we have the lowest unemployment of black Americans, criminal justice reform, more money appropriated to HBCU’s than any other President, median family incomes have risen, wages and incomes for black Americans are up, the rate of job growth for black Americans has risen higher on average than the past administration, and much more.
The alternatives in 2020 are people just promising free money for ‘reparations’. Buying someone’s vote isn’t the answer
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
From the article: “And it looks like it was all a misunderstanding.”
Translation: I got a call from Democratic Party hq telling me to either apologize or I’m fired. I decided the benefits, salary and opportunities that come with this job are worth saying what I don’t want to say and that is “I’m sorry.”
Or at least thats how I read it. If you don’t see a face that blares “I’m a gay scandal just waiting to happen, be patient” written all over his face then honey, you need my glasses. Happily I won’t be seeing him at my church this Sunday.
Donston
He definitely gives off certain vibes….
I have heard more than a few people refer to “gay” as not having much to do with sex but more about romantic/relationship preferences and ambitions and who you want persistent love/affections from. So, I don’t hate on him for viewing “gay” in such a way. But people also sometimes view “gay” in this way to shield being very sexually into their own gender. And even referring to “who he chooses to love” comes off as a bitter and unnecessary observation.
His wording definitely made it seem like he was hating on Pete for being unabashedly gay-identifying and being married to a man, rather than dissecting his prospects as a candidate. You could sense the resentment in his description. So, I don’t really buy where he’s coming from now.
JaredNorthcutt30
Meanwhile, Donston, I received a $3000 grant for my transgender advocacy from the local LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce last night. Whoops. You’re gonna have to try harder if you want me to sit it out. My middle-aged transgender asexual ass got a monied seat at the table last night. Eat it up.
gaym50ish
Miscommunication is something that happens vocally, via a slip of the tongue or a lapse in judgment. When you put something in writing you have plenty of time to correct it, so it tends to state what you really think.
It was in an article, not a speech, that Seawright supposedly miscommunicated. What BS.
Yooper
miserable little prick
winemaker
really who gives a rats ass what this black idiot has to say. The reason he’s losing the black vote, he’s gay pure and simple. Sad these people haven’t learned from their history about discrimination based on stupid reasons
youarederanged
Racism is alive and well. Thanks for the reminder.
Chrisk
I see nothing at all racist in the comment. Being gay is the biggest reason black people give for not voting for him. The irony of coarse is the racists will say the same thing about black politicians.
youarederanged
@Chrisk, I’ll spell it out for you clearly. Referring to someone as a black idiot and “these people” is the literal definition of racist language. You support Dem’s racism, so not surprised you wouldn’t see the blatant racism here.
Cam
IF your job is explaining strategy, and now you are claiming your words conveyed the exact opposite of what you wanted to say……that isn’t a great thing.
Birdbrain1963
Administrator: please block these spammers,
OwenPowell1381
LukeHill1389