In a candid, nearly three-hour interview on the Flagrant podcast, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg opened up about his journey of coming out, how he met his husband Chasten Buttigieg, and delivered a hilarious reaction to claims about Grindr usage during Republican National Conventions.
On Wednesday, 23 April, Buttigieg sat down with Flagrant cohosts Andrew Schulz, Akaash Singh, Mark Gagnon, and Alexx Media for an extensive chat. The conversation shifted between serious political topics, reflections on Donald Trump’s administration, and more personal revelations.
Writing a Coming-Out Letter During Deployment
While discussing ways he engages with those holding opposing political views, Buttigieg reflected on the “terrifying” experience of coming out as an elected official in Indiana.
He shared that during his 2014 deployment to Afghanistan, he wrote a “just in case” letter — a common practice among deployed troops. “It’s everything you would want your loved ones to know: From your internet passwords to how you feel your life went,” he explained.
At the time, Buttigieg was serving as mayor of his hometown. Despite a seemingly successful life, he wrote about a personal void: “I’m also a grown ass man in a position of responsibility and I don’t actually know what it’s like to be in love. If I get back, I’m not going to let that continue.”
Upon returning home and seeking re-election, he decided to come out publicly through a local newspaper op-ed. “I don’t think this should be anybody’s business, but I know it’s a thing. Here’s something you should know about me,” Buttigieg wrote. While some negativity followed, he said, “Nothing ever happened that made me regret that I did it.”
Meeting Chasten via a Dating App
A few months later, Buttigieg met Chasten. Addressing a playful question about how they connected, Buttigieg clarified, “No, I found him! We were on… It was Hinge, the dating app.”
When asked if it had been Grindr, a cohost jokingly chimed in, “Grindr is for Republicans,” sparking laughter across the room.
A Priceless Reaction to Grindr-RNC Claims
The conversation took an even funnier turn when Schulz teased, “We do need to talk about why every time the RNC happens, Grindr explodes.”
Buttigieg’s response? A knowing smirk, a shrug, and a glance at the camera — reminiscent of Jim Halpert from The Office — leaving the podcast hosts and listeners laughing along.
Schulz pushed the joke further, quipping, “I’m just saying!” to which Alexx Media added, “It seems like a lot of letters need to be written.”
