Buttigieg Claps Back Against Homophobic MAGA Speaker

During an appearance on CNN, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was asked to address the homophobic record and rhetoric of Mike Johnson, the newly-elected Republican Speaker of the House.

Anchor John Berman asked Buttigieg—who is openly gay, happily married, and a father of two twins—to react to Johnson’s recent remarks to Fox propagandist Sean Hannity, in which the Speaker referred to homosexuality as a “lifestyle choice.”

Buttigieg responded graciously, saying that if being gay was a choice, it was one made “well above [his] paygrade.”

After reminding CNN’s audience that the majority of Americans recognize the validity of gay marriage, the Secretary admitted he found it troubling that the most powerful elected Republican doesn’t believe Buttigieg’s family “ought to exist.”

He concluded that he’s grateful to both live under the protection of a Constitution which—according to the Supreme Court in its 2015 Obergefell ruling—protects gay marriage and to serve “under a President who’s making sure that everybody is included and protected,” including families like his.

Speaker Johnson’s relative anonymity is what many believe helped elevate him to that role, but Democrats and their surrogates are working diligently to expose his long record of homophobia to the American people.

Johnson has referred to homosexuality as “inherently unnatural,” a “dangerous lifestyle” and “bizarre choice,” and has even opined it could destroy “the entire democratic system.” He also opposed President Biden’s Respect for Marriage Law which passed additional protections for gay marriage in the event the conservative Supreme Court revisits its Obergefell decision.