Pete Buttigieg’s sexuality could prevent him from earning support among black Americans in South Carolina.
According to a report from a focus group conducted by the mayor’s campaign, black voters found his sexuality to be “a barrier” stopping them from supporting Buttigieg as their candidate of choice.
Buttigieg, 37, married his husband, Chasten Buttigieg, in 2018.
Benenson Strategy Group, who provided Buttigieg’s campaign with a 21-page report and summary from the focus group, revealed that “being gay was a barrier” for many of the individuals who participated in the group, especially the male participants “who seemed deeply uncomfortable even discussing it.”
The summary stated that most participants would still vote for Buttigieg if he earns the nomination, but would prefer that his sexuality “not be front and center.”
A male participant said, “I don’t like the fact that he threw out there that he lives with his husband.” Another participant, a woman under the age of 40, claimed details of Buttigieg’s relationship was “too much information.”
One male participant questioned how Buttigieg’s sexuality could affect his ability to work with other nations. “We need someone in the position now as a strong leader coming from what we have now, and that’s the only reason I think that would hurt him,” the man said.
A Fox News poll conducted in September found that less than 1% of black voters in South Carolina backed Buttigieg, with Joe Biden, 76, being the front-runner for those surveyed.
