The Whitewashing of Mayor Pete

Let me begin by stating the obvious. For the majority of his life, US presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg passed as a straight white male. This is how others viewed him, and thus treated him accordingly. So the notion that the South Bend, Indiana politician can possibly “relate” to, say, the African-American experience – or that of a drag queen for that matter – is ridiculous at best, insulting at worst. People are defined by the society in which they live, by how others see them, with rewards and punishments doled out accordingly. And Mayor Pete did not challenge – and indeed profited from – that fact.

To read all about why I can't come out for (former) Mayor Pete visit Global Comment.