entertainment and movies - In a deeply controversial segment that has drawn widespread criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and political commentators, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has escalated his attacks on Transportation ...
Secretary Pete Buttigieg by questioning the authenticity of his sexual orientation.
During a recent episode of his show, Carlson referred to Buttigieg as "the fake gay guy" and claimed he had evidence to support his inflammatory accusation - namely, an unnamed gay producer on his show who allegedly believes Buttigieg is straight. The former Fox host went further by suggesting Buttigieg was merely attempting to appeal to Democratic voters by "masquerading" as a gay man.
This latest incident follows a pattern of similar comments from Carlson dating back to 2022, when he first accused Buttigieg of lying about being gay. The attacks continued in 2024 when Carlson described Buttigieg as "supposedly gay" and dismissed resulting criticism as "hilarious."
Buttigieg's journey with his sexual identity has been well-documented. At the LGBTQ Victory Fund's annual brunch in 2019, he spoke candidly about his struggles with self-acceptance, describing it as "a kind of war." The Transportation Secretary, who came out publicly in 2015 while serving as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has been married to his husband Chasten since 2018, and they are parents to two children.
The controversy highlights ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ politicians and public figures, who often find their personal identities subjected to public scrutiny and attack. Buttigieg made history as the first openly gay cabinet member confirmed by the Senate, representing a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in government.
As of the publication of these comments, Buttigieg has not publicly responded to Carlson's latest accusations, maintaining his typical approach of focusing on his work as Transportation Secretary rather than engaging with personal attacks.
During a recent episode of his show, Carlson referred to Buttigieg as "the fake gay guy" and claimed he had evidence to support his inflammatory accusation - namely, an unnamed gay producer on his show who allegedly believes Buttigieg is straight. The former Fox host went further by suggesting Buttigieg was merely attempting to appeal to Democratic voters by "masquerading" as a gay man.
This latest incident follows a pattern of similar comments from Carlson dating back to 2022, when he first accused Buttigieg of lying about being gay. The attacks continued in 2024 when Carlson described Buttigieg as "supposedly gay" and dismissed resulting criticism as "hilarious."
Buttigieg's journey with his sexual identity has been well-documented. At the LGBTQ Victory Fund's annual brunch in 2019, he spoke candidly about his struggles with self-acceptance, describing it as "a kind of war." The Transportation Secretary, who came out publicly in 2015 while serving as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has been married to his husband Chasten since 2018, and they are parents to two children.
The controversy highlights ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ politicians and public figures, who often find their personal identities subjected to public scrutiny and attack. Buttigieg made history as the first openly gay cabinet member confirmed by the Senate, representing a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in government.
As of the publication of these comments, Buttigieg has not publicly responded to Carlson's latest accusations, maintaining his typical approach of focusing on his work as Transportation Secretary rather than engaging with personal attacks.