Teacher, Bestselling Author & LGBTQ+ Rights Advocate
Chasten Buttigieg: Biography at a Glance
- Chasten Buttigieg is an author, teacher, arts education enthusiast, LGBTQ+ rights advocate, and husband of former mayor and presidential candidate, Pete Buttigieg.
- His New York Times bestselling book, I Have Something to Tell You, is a moving, uplifting memoir in which he recounts his journey to finding acceptance as a gay man and details his life story including bullying, estrangement, homelessness, and sexual assault.
- His upcoming book, Papa’s Coming Home, is a charming picture book that shines a light on the humorous musings of toddlers and a parent’s unconditional love for their child.
- Chasten has been vocal in his criticism of the rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation sweeping the country, and its damaging effects on families, schools, and communities, especially the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth.
- Chasten speaks passionately about leveraging his platform to advocate for improving public schools, expanding access to arts education, and prioritizing mental healthcare, emphasizing the importance of creating equitable opportunities and fostering supportive communities for all.
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Biography
Chasten Buttigieg, husband of former mayor and presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, has become a popular figure in his own right. The teacher's wit, intimate social media musings, and inspiring speeches have prompted glowing media coverage and declarations that he "won the 2020 spouse primary."
As his husband launched a campaign that made him one of the most talked-about Democrats in the 2020 race, Chasten leveraged his own platform to bring attention to improving public schools, access to arts education, and mental healthcare.
After leaving the 2020 campaign trail, he published his first book, I Have Something to Tell You. In this moving, uplifting memoir, he recounts his journey to finding acceptance as a gay man.
Throughout the campaign, Chasten came across many people who have felt supported and loved by his message: "You belong. You are loved. You are welcome here."
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I Have Something to Tell You
Growing up, Chasten Buttigieg didn’t always fit in. He felt different from his father and brothers and out of place in the rural, conservative small town where he lived. Back then, blending in was more important than feeling seen. So, when Chasten realized he was gay, he kept that part of himself hidden away for a long, painful time.
With incredible bravery, and the support of his loved ones, Chasten eventually came out—and when he did, he learned that being true to himself was the most rewarding journey of all. With honesty, courage, and warmth, Chasten relays his experience of growing up in America and embracing his identity, while inspiring young people across the country to do the same.
