Life

Pete and Chasten Buttigieg celebrate birth of first children together

By Conor Clark

6th September 2021

Photo: Twitter [@PeteButtigieg]

Pete Buttigieg and husband Chasten have announced the birth of their two newborn children alongside a heartwarming family photo.

The US secretary of transportation made the announcement on social media, sharing that his children’s names are Penelope Rose and Joseph August Buttigieg.

Details of the birth have not yet been revealed, but it is believed the children are twins given the timing of their arrival.

It is also believed that Joseph is named after Buttigieg’s father, literary scholar and professor Joseph Anthony Buttigieg II.

The couple only revealed that they were becoming parents publicly a few weeks ago on 17 August.

“For some time, Chasten and I have wanted to grow our family,” Buttigieg wrote on Twitter in August. “We’re overjoyed to share that we’ve become parents! The process isn’t done yet and we’re thankful for the love, support, and respect for our privacy that has been offered to us. We can’t wait to share more soon.”

The pair first spoke publicly about wanting children in early 2020 and have been attacked by anti-LGBTQ+ Republicans several times for not having any.

Sharing the news of the birth on Twitter, Buttigieg wrote: “Chasten and I are beyond thankful for all the kind wishes since first sharing the news that we’re becoming parents.

“We are delighted to welcome Penelope Rose and Joseph August Buttigieg to our family.”

The politician, who is the first openly LGBTQ+ person to launch a major presidential campaign in the US, also shared a black and white image of the family together for the first time.

Buttigieg has also made history as the first openly LGBTQ+ person to win a presidential primary or caucus, as well as being the first openly LGBTQ+ Cabinet member in US history.

In a recent interview, he revealed that he and his husband have been struggling to adopt for the last few years.

He said: “It’s a really weird cycle of anger and frustration and hope. You think it’s finally happening and you get so excited, and then it’s gone.”

Buttigieg explained that one day he wants to tell his children: “We tried so hard for you. We waited so long for you.”