Pete Buttigieg has spoken about his experience of fatherhood and raising mixed-race children.The former US secretary of transportation and his husband, Chasten, adopted twins Penelope and Joseph in 2021. Appearing on Wednesday’s (23 April) episode of the Flagrant podcast, the Democratic politician described fatherhood as “the best thing”.

Asked about how he and Chasten imagined having conversations with their children, both of whom are mixed-race, about their experiences in the world and how those would differ from their own, Buttigieg replied: “We think about it all the time and it’s not like we have it all figured out.”He also talked about their “surprise adoption scenario” – as prospective parents, they were “just on a list” so had no idea how many children they’d get or the youngsters’ racial identity.“Contending with the hair is already a thing,” he said, when asked to give in a specific example, “especially from Black parents who see stuff on Instagram and they’re like: ‘Let me tell you how to do it’.

Lots of advice.”Pete Buttigieg (R) and husband Chasten adopted newborn twins in 2021. (Twitter/@PeteButtigieg)But it’s clear that questions of race weigh heavily on the mind of the former presidential candidate.

“You’re constantly asking yourself: ‘How can I be a good dad’,” he said. “And now it’s: ‘How can I be a good dad for kids who have a different racial identity than I do. How can I help them navigate that?“And what are the circumstances where there’s nothing I can do to help them? I need to connect them with mentors and people in their lives, because the reality is this is not a colour-blind society and their lives will be affected in some way by their racial [identity].

All of ours are.”He hoped that “by the time they’re old enough to be wondering and thinking about these things, which is coming sooner than we think, they know they are loved, that they are safe, and that they’re growing up in a world that has so much possibility for them. “And that we’ll be there for them any way we can.

”Ultimately, though, “It’s pretty humbling”, he admitted.Many of the podcast’s followers have praised him, and some were surprised to like him despite not agreeing with his politics. One self-proclaimed conservative wrote: “I see Pete in a completely different light now: very wholesome.

Even though our views don’t always align, he is a great husband, dad and representative.”Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful. The post Pete Buttigieg on ‘humbling’ experience of raising mixed race kids appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

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