Indiana has frequented the news lately, and not for their delicious Hoosier Pie recipes — Governor Mike Pence has made a name for his state as the national battle line for so-called “religious freedom” laws.
Now the mayor of South Bend, Indiana’s fourth-largest city, is making headlines for promoting a different sort of freedom — the freedom to live an authentic life.
Whereas Pence somehow managed to pen a pride month welcome letter without actually mentioning LGBT people, Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend recently authored an op-ed in the South Bend Tribune titled Why Coming Out Matters.
Here’s a taste:
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.
“I was well into adulthood before I was prepared to acknowledge the simple fact that I am gay. It took years of struggle and growth for me to recognize that it’s just a fact of life, like having brown hair, and part of who I am. Putting something this personal on the pages of a newspaper does not come easy. We Midwesterners are instinctively private to begin with, and I’m not used to viewing this as anyone else’s business. But it’s clear to me that at a moment like this, being more open about it could do some good. For a local student struggling with her sexuality, it might be helpful for an openly gay mayor to send the message that her community will always have a place for her. And for a conservative resident from a different generation, whose unease with social change is partly rooted in the impression that he doesn’t know anyone gay, perhaps a familiar face can be a reminder that we’re all in this together as a community.”
You can read the full piece here.
Mike Kausalik
Hope he can find a place that’ll still serve him pizza.
Domonique Fuller
Hey handsome I’d date him lol
StephK
Well said! Pure class!
tricky ricky
can’t wait until the letters pour into the paper from the local moral squad demanding he resign. south bend has a contingent of right wing nut job catholic moral crusaders who just love to write into the paper and bash gays. I myself have been going up against them for years. their unhinged deranged ramblings of hate and moral superiority will be highly entertaining.
Justin Lee Moody
This makes me even more proud to have grown up in South Bend, Indiana. I still currently live in South Bend.
1EqualityUSA
Certainly, our creator would not have us living disingenuous lives. We refuse to lie, in order to keep others comfortable. Those, in their self-designed comfort zones, may indulge in conjectural thought until the cows come home, but keep out of my life. Thanks for having the courage to be true-blue.
Nick Cioffi
Thank you for your service to our country. Thank you for sharing your personal life with us.
aaronarnwine
religious freedom is a thing…doesn’t need scare quotes around it! not “so called religious freedome” anything.
see 1st amendment
BlueDude
Love it, love it, love it! BRAVO, Mr Mayor! Gosh, I hope this gave Gov. Pence an aneurism, or, at least a migraine.
Shane Camfield
Cutie!!!
Giancarlo85
And thank goodness he’s a democrat. I would be shaking my head if he was a republican in that state.
I hope he can handle all the impending hatred from the right wing nuts in the state.
John Wesley Anderson
Awesome!
Darryl Cummings
Bravo…
Cam
@aaronarnwine:
Actually when it is used in a B.S. way as an excuse for bigotry in the public sphere, then no, it isn’t a “Thing”.
But nice try.
BJ McFrisky
I’m confused, as usual.
Every article I’ve ever read here regarding the state of Indiana diminishes it to a land of haters and religious wackos. You told me to never go there. You convinced me that only the worst of the worst live there. I was actively boycotting it by never setting foot in there, just like you said to. But now we’re supposed to sanction an Indiana politician just because he’s gay? Doesn’t that logic dictate we also support Republican politicians who are also gay? Or does ideology trump identity?
1EqualityUSA
Depends on if they are against us.
russellhm
Learning that, in his earlier election, the Mayor lost those precincts in western South Bend that are largely African-American what with an African-American running against him. And I must wonder if the Mayor’s reelection may have been racially motivated by the largely white community. Had they known he was gay, would they still have supported him? Which form of hatred is acceptable? Neither, actually, but this is America–this is Indiana. But this major is a boon to the GLBT community as he is well-spoken and in South Bend, the home of Notre Dame, that counts for a lot.
James Reyes
Moving to South Bend if he announces he’s single 🙂
Jerry Kelley
BJ McFriskey, please name one Republican gay person
Xzamilio
@BJ McFrisky: You know damn well nuance is needed in certain situations, so the flip flopping between specific circumstance and generalities does not compute. What logic dictates we also support gay Republicans? Are these Republicans looking to reform their party from within? Do they vote in line with their party against their own self interests? Believe it or not, there are those of us who can see the merits/demerits of Democrats/Republicans and Liberals/Conservatives and everything in between. Don’t mean to be curt with you, but your use of “logic” was a smokescreen to jump to a conclusion not supported with many facts.
Gavin Fitch
It’s important to read the entire letter, not just the summary on the front page. Very well-written!
mike51295
As an out and proud gay man living in South Bend, You go! We are so proud of you.
Giancarlo85
@BJ McFrisky: Convinced you to never go there? Do you know how to read? You are a gay conservative with no real thought process. I always thought Julian Castro is a great future leader in the democratic party. He represented San Antonio as Mayor. Doesn’t change the fact that Texas is a right wing dump overall. Keep on voting against your own interests, bj.
George Eckert
good for him, congratulations.
BJ McFrisky
@Xzamilio: C’mon, X, you should know me well enough to know when I’m serious and when I’m just being sardonic.
I admire this mayor and his courage, his stance.
And I’m very aware that you’re not the typical gay lib, which is why I read your posts and replies, and frequently agree with your position(s).
danemichael
Yum…
Xzamilio
@BJ McFrisky: I had a feeling you were being facetious, but Poe’s law is a sonofabitch.
Alan David
Love it
Giancarlo85
@BJ McFrisky: “Typical gay lib”? And what are you? A self hating gay conservative!
enfilmigult
@aaronarnwine: It needs scare quotes when it’s a euphemism for “religious dominion.”
Kangol
This is great news.
I’m curious to know what the leadership at Roman Catholic Notre Dame will say about this, though. No matter what, Buttigieg’s courage deserves praise.
I also hope Buttigieg’s coming out serves as an inspiration for other LGBTIQ people in Indiana and other conservative states.
Mark Stevenson
That took courage! Congrats!
Jake Riley
something something South Bend
Scott Summers
Something something complete
Eric Carr
yeah.. i already knew he was gay 😛
Jeremy Malean
Cute
Damon Robbins
He is a man of courage!
Michael Darby
Brave man, well done good looking too
sacto37
For those unfamiliar with South Bend and Notre Dame, South Bend is actually quite progressive for Indiana. I am a gay man living here, so I know. I moved here from the Bay Area, and was surprised at how accepting the people of this city are. There are many pride events (one this weekend) and an active LGBT community. Our city leaders actually gathered to protest RFRA. And Notre Dame is accepting of all people. They offer benefits to same-sex couples. I work at Notre Dame as an openly gay man and have been promoted twice in the past three years. There are bigots here just like any other city/town, but I have never once felt threatened or discriminated against. Here is a video ND put out last year that made me proud to work here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca9bUC7jqAs
Liberty Ann
lol Eric Carr I see him on the News alot…I wastch south bend news
YesIDid
Well, isn’t that precious!