ABOVE: (L-R) Sec. Pete Buttigieg, husband Chasten and Vice President Kamala Harris Feb. 3. Photo courtesy Harris’ Facebook page.
Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg was sworn into office Feb. 3, making history as the first openly gay person to be confirmed to a Cabinet-level position.
Buttigieg’s Oath of Office was administered by Vice President Kamala Harris, who made history last month in her own right. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana was joined by his husband Chasten for a brief ceremony.
Watch below, via the Washington Blade:
Both Buttigieg and Harris subsequently celebrated the newly sworn in secretary via social media.
“This morning, I swore in Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation,” the vice president shared. “Secretary Buttigieg is a true problem-solver. He will bring people together to strengthen our nation’s infrastructure. And he will keep breaking boundaries while he’s at it. Congratulations, Mr. Secretary.”
“I’m honored to serve as Secretary of Transportation and help build the kind of infrastructure that creates jobs, empowers all, and keeps travelers & workers safe,” Buttigieg added. “It’s time to get to work.”
He also thanked the vice president for swearing him in, reflecting on joining the administration:
Following his historic Senate confirmation, the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy organization celebrated President Joe Biden’s commitment to equality.
“President Biden promised to deliver an administration representative of the diversity of this nation, and this confirmation is a significant achievement toward that goal,” the Human Rights Campaign said.
