{{Short description|American teacher and writer (born 1989)}} {{Use American English | date = April 2019}} {{Use mdy dates | date = April 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Chasten Buttigieg | birth_name = Chasten James Glezman | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|6|23}} | birth_place = [[Traverse City, Michigan]], U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | order = [[First Gentleman]] of [[South Bend, Indiana]] | term_label = In role | term_start = June 16, 2018 | term_end = January 1, 2020 | predecessor = Peg Luecke (as First Lady) | successor = Kellye Mitros Mueller (as First Lady) | 1blankname = Mayor | 1namedata = [[Pete Buttigieg]] | party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | spouse = {{marriage|[[Pete Buttigieg]]|June 16, 2018}} | children = 2 | education = [[Northwestern Michigan College]]<br />[[University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[DePaul University]] ([[Master of Education|MEd]]) | image = Chasten Buttigieg at Books in Bloom 2023 (cropped).jpg | caption = Buttigieg in 2023 | occupation = {{flatlist| * Teacher * writer * LGBTQ rights advocate }} | module = {{infobox writer | embed = yes | notable_works = ''[[I Have Something to Tell You]]'' (2020)<br />''I Have Something to Tell You -- For Young Adults'' (2023)<br />''Papa's Coming Home'' picture book (2025) }} }}
'''Chasten James Glezman Buttigieg''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|tʃ|æ|s|t|ə|n|_|ˈ|b|uː|t|ɪ|dʒ|ə|dʒ}} {{respell|CHAS|tən|_|BOO|tij|əj}}; {{né|'''Glezman'''}}; born June 23, 1989) is an American teacher, author, and [[LGBTQ movements|LGBTQ activist]]. He is married to [[Pete Buttigieg]], the former [[United States Secretary of Transportation|U.S. Secretary of Transportation]], and was an advisor, spokesperson, and social media campaigner during his husband's [[Pete Buttigieg 2020 presidential campaign|2020 presidential campaign]]. In September 2020, Buttigieg released a memoir titled ''[[I Have Something to Tell You]]''. He published an adaptation of his memoir for young adults in May 2023. In May 2025, he published a picture book, ''Papa's Coming Home.''
== Early life and education == Buttigieg was born Chasten James Glezman, on June 23, 1989, in [[Traverse City, Michigan]], to Sherri ({{Nee|Pelon}}) and Terry Glezman, owners of a landscaping business.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/chasten-buttigieg-has-been-a-homeless-community-college-student-and-a-starbucks-barista-now-he-could-be-first-gentleman/2019/05/01/436183b8-6c31-11e9-a66d-a82d3f3d96d5_story.html|title=Chasten Buttigieg has been a homeless community-college student and a Starbucks barista. Now, he could be 'first gentleman.'|last=McCarthy|first=Ellen|date=May 2, 2019|access-date=May 2, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Bedwell|first=Michael|date=2020-09-12|title=Chasten Buttigieg's new book is a frank discussion of growing up gay in middle America|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/09/chasten-buttigiegs-new-book-frank-discussion-growing-gay-middle-america/|access-date=2020-12-19|website=LGBTQ Nation}}</ref> The youngest of three brothers, he was raised in [[Chums Corner, Michigan|Chums Corner]], a suburban area outside Traverse City, in a [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] family.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/18/fashion/weddings/mayor-peter-buttigieg-wedding-democratic-party.html|title=Pete Buttigieg Might Be President Someday. He's Already Got the First Man.|last=Trebay|first=Guy|date=2018-06-18|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-04-15|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> As a teenager, Buttigieg worked at a cherry products store called Cherry Republic and drove tractors on his grandfather's [[Cherry production in Michigan|cherry farm]] in [[Suttons Bay, Michigan|Suttons Bay]]. He won a [[Blue ribbon#Fair competitions|blue ribbon]] in pit spitting at the [[National Cherry Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Oosting|first=Jonathan|date=July 29, 2019|title=Buttigieg brings Michigan husband, Midwest roots to Democratic race|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/29/buttigieg-michigan-husband-connections-democratic-race/1702875001/|access-date=2020-12-19|website=The Detroit News|language=en-US}}</ref>
Buttigieg attended [[Traverse City West Senior High School]] and spent his senior year as an exchange student in Germany. He took classes at [[Northwestern Michigan College]] before attending the [[University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire]];<ref name=":2">{{Citation|last=Human Rights Campaign|title=Chasten Buttigieg Speaks at the 2019 HRC Houston Dinner|date=2019-04-06|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grqtoijOuHE|access-date=2019-04-15}}</ref> he graduated in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in theater and global studies.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindquist |first=Eric |date=2019-05-21 |title=University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire graduate in spotlight as nation's potential first gentleman|url=https://lacrossetribune.com/news/state-and-regional/wi/university-of-wisconsin-eau-claire-graduate-in-spotlight-as-nations-potential-first-gentleman/article_ecfc3b7c-7b16-11e9-88aa-83e85108f256.html |work=LaCrosse Tribune |access-date=2020-01-14}}</ref> Later, Buttigieg attended [[DePaul University]] in Chicago where he received a Master of Education degree in 2017.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tma-el.org/about-us/faculty-and-staff.cfm?catid=4|title=Faculty and Staff|website=www.tma-el.org|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327101127/http://www.tma-el.org/about-us/faculty-and-staff.cfm?catid=4|url-status=dead}}</ref> That summer, Buttigieg began an [[American Montessori Society|AMS]]/[[Montessori education|MACTE]] certificate from [[Xavier University]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.tma-el.org/img/dynamic/file/5-23-17-Weekly-Memo-emailable.pdf?1495573104882|title=Weekly Memo|date=May 23, 2017|work=Montessori Academy Edison Lakes|access-date=April 14, 2019}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
== Career == After graduating from college, Buttigieg moved to Milwaukee, where he worked as a teaching artist for [[First Stage Children's Theater]] as well as in classroom settings in the greater Milwaukee area.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=First Stage Academy|date=Fall 2012|title=Faculty and Staff|url=https://www.firststage.org/Documents/First%20Stage%20PDFs/InFocus/1213/Vol%202%20Issue%205%20Fall%20Academy.pdf|journal=In Focus: News from the Academy|volume=2|pages=6|access-date=April 15, 2019|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128023501/https://www.firststage.org/Documents/First%20Stage%20PDFs/InFocus/1213/Vol%202%20Issue%205%20Fall%20Academy.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
While pursuing his graduate degree, he was a substitute teacher in both Chicago and South Bend public schools. In fall 2017, Buttigieg began as a junior high humanities teacher at the Montessori Academy in [[Mishawaka, Indiana]].<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mack |first1=Justin |title=Chasten Buttigieg: What we know about Mayor Pete's husband |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2019/04/09/chasten-buttigieg-what-we-know-pete-buttigiegs-husband/3398186002/ |access-date=28 April 2019 |work=Indianapolis Star |date=9 April 2019}}</ref> He also taught theater and ran a diversity club.<ref name=":2" /> He took a leave of absence to support his husband's campaign.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chasten Buttigieg: The rising star of 2020 candidates' spouses |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/04/05/mayor-pete-buttigieg-husband-chasten-twitter-dnt-bennett-ebof-vpx.cnn |website=CNN |date=April 6, 2019 |access-date=28 April 2019}}</ref> In January 2019, Buttigieg joined the Civic Education Team of the [[South Bend Civic Theatre]] as the director of curriculum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/south-bend/article/South-Bend-Civic-Theatre-Hires-Chasten-Buttigieg-And-Kristen-Campbell-For-Education-Department-Positions-20190109|title=South Bend Civic Theatre Hires Chasten Buttigieg And Kristen Campbell For Education Department Positions|author=BWW News Desk|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-15}}</ref>
In 2016, Buttigieg was a state Democratic delegate for [[St. Joseph County, Indiana|St. Joseph County]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://b.3cdn.net/indems/b5b9b7dc69690b442a_l8m6bswdx.pdf|title=The Indiana State Democratic Party 2016 Hoosier Hospitality Dinner & State Convention|date=2016|access-date=April 15, 2019}}</ref> He was the first gentleman of [[South Bend, Indiana]], from June 16, 2018, to January 1, 2020.<ref name="FG">{{cite news |title=Chasten Buttigieg Could Be The First Gentleman And America Loves Him |url=https://eblnews.com/video/chasten-buttigieg-could-be-first-gentleman-and-america-loves-him-659547 |access-date=22 April 2019 |work=EBLnews |date=April 20, 2019 |quote=According to Business Insider, the first gentleman of South Bend has become a social media sweetheart in his own right. |archive-date=April 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423011716/https://eblnews.com/video/chasten-buttigieg-could-be-first-gentleman-and-america-loves-him-659547 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>[[File:123019CT-56517.jpg|thumb|Chasten (left) and Pete Buttigieg campaigning in Iowa in 2019]] Buttigieg was a campaign spokesperson,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Steinhauser|first1=Paul|date=22 April 2019|title=Meet the 2020 spouses: The high-powered men and women behind the candidates|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/meet-the-2020-spouses-the-high-powered-men-and-women-behind-the-candidates|access-date=28 April 2019|website=Fox News}}</ref> advisor,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gangitano|first1=Alex|date=27 April 2019|title=Chasten Buttigieg emerges as Mayor Pete's secret weapon|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/440907-chasten-buttigieg-emerges-as-mayor-petes-secret-weapon|access-date=28 April 2019|website=The Hill}}</ref> and social media campaigner for his husband [[Pete Buttigieg]]'s [[Pete Buttigieg 2020 presidential campaign|2020 presidential campaign]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Weiss|first1=Joanna|date=29 March 2019|title=Chasten Buttigieg Is Winning the 2020 Spouse Primary|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/03/29/pete-buttigieg-husband-chasten-226335/|access-date=28 April 2019|website=Politico}}.</ref><ref name="petrow">{{cite news|last1=Petrow|first1=Steven|date=31 August 2020|title=Chasten Buttigieg's 'I Have Something to Tell You' is refreshingly candid, but a missed opportunity|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/chasten-buttigiegs-i-have-something-to-tell-you-is-refreshingly-candid-but-a-missed-opportunity/2020/08/31/97f80f54-e634-11ea-970a-64c73a1c2392_story.html|access-date=5 September 2020}}</ref> If his husband had been elected, Chasten identified improving the nation's public schools, arts education, and mental health as the areas he would have directed his attention towards as First Gentleman.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Relman|first1=Eliza|date=19 April 2019|title=Meet Chasten Buttigieg, Pete Buttigieg's husband, who is a junior high school teacher, a dog dad, and very online|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/pete-buttigiegs-husband-chasten-buttigieg-2020-candidate-2019-4#chasten-grew-up-in-traverse-city-michigan-after-graduating-with-a-bachelors-degree-in-theater-and-global-studies-in-2011-he-became-a-drama-teacher-in-milwaukee-5|access-date=28 April 2019|website=Business Insider}}</ref> He also supports [[LGBTQ]] rights.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Igoe|first1=Katherine|date=17 April 2019|title=Chasten Buttigieg, Mayor Pete's Husband, Just Gave His First Major Interview|url=https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a27179973/chasten-buttigieg-interview-pete-buttigieg-campaign/|access-date=28 April 2019|website=Marie Claire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Zavaleta|first=Lourdes|date=2019-09-13|title=Chasten Buttigieg Visited Montrose Center Prior to Dem Debate|url=https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2019/09/chasten-buttigieg-visits-montrose-center-prior-to-dem-debate/|access-date=2020-12-19|website=OutSmart Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> After his husband's withdrawal from the race, both endorsed [[Joe Biden]] and campaigned for him.<ref name="oliver">{{cite news|last1=Oliver|first1=David|date=31 August 2020|title=Chasten Buttigieg talks Biden, quarantine and new memoir: 'I wanted to write my real story'|publisher=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2020/08/31/chasten-buttigieg-opens-up-joe-biden-quarantine-new-memoir/5656609002/|access-date=5 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3Ts7J_hFeM|title = An Out for Biden Conversation with Jill Biden and Chasten Buttigieg | Joe Biden for President 2020|website = YouTube| date=August 7, 2020 }}</ref><ref name="bowden">{{cite news |last1=Bowden |first1=John |title=Chasten Buttigieg to talk husband's presidential bid, coronavirus in new memoir |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/514496-chasten-buttigieg-to-talk-husbands-presidential-bid-coronavirus-memoir |access-date=5 September 2020 |work=The Hill |date=31 August 2020}}</ref> Since the campaign, Buttigieg now considers [[Kamala Harris]] and [[Doug Emhoff]] close friends.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ring|first=Trudy|date=2020-12-16|title=Buttigieg Speaks on His Historic Cabinet Role, Proposing to Chasten|url=https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/12/16/buttigieg-speaks-his-historic-cabinet-role-proposing-chasten|access-date=2020-12-19|website=Advocate|language=en}}</ref>
Buttigieg was a [[Harvard Institute of Politics]] Fellow for the fall 2020 [[Educational technology|virtual]] semester.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Yu|first=Sixiao|date=August 25, 2020|title=Advocate Chasten Buttigieg, Attorney Jorge Vazquez Jr. Among Institute of Politics Fellows For Virtual Fall Semester|website=[[The Harvard Crimson]]|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2020/8/25/iop-fall-2020-fellows/|access-date=2020-12-19}}</ref> In December 2020, Buttigieg criticized [[Joseph Epstein (writer)|Joseph Epstein]]'s [[op-ed]] about [[Jill Biden]]'s academic credentials, calling it [[Sexism|sexist]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Crump|first=James|date=2020-12-17|title=Who is Pete Buttigieg's husband Chasten?|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/who-is-chasten-buttigieg-pete-b1774850.html|access-date=2020-12-19|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref>
On September 1, 2020, Buttigieg released his debut memoir, ''[[I Have Something to Tell You]]''.<ref name="oliver" /><ref name="petrow" /><ref name=":5" /> The hardcover edition debuted at number 12 on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]] for hardcover non-fiction.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Sept. 20, 2020 - The New York Times|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2020/09/20/hardcover-nonfiction/|access-date=21 October 2020}}</ref> He published an adaptation of ''I Have Something to Tell You'' for young adults in 2023. The adaptation "focuses mostly on his youth and not on his adult life with Mayor Pete," according to ''Kirkus Reviews''.<ref>{{cite web |title=I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU―FOR YOUNG ADULTS |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/chasten-buttigieg/i-have-something-to-tell-youfor-young-adults/ |access-date=2025-08-28}}</ref> In 2025, he published a children's picture book about a family with two fathers, titled ''Papa's Coming Home''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chasten Buttigieg's kids' book makes publishing history |url=https://www.advocate.com/news/chasten-buttigieg-historic-childrens-book |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=www.advocate.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tagen-Dye |first=Carly |date=2024-08-14 |title=Chasten Buttigieg Announces Debut Picture Book: 'I Wanted My Kids to See Themselves' (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/chasten-buttigieg-announces-debut-picture-book-inspired-by-family-exclusive-8695130 |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=People.com}}</ref>
== Personal life == [[File:Pete and Chasten Buttigieg.jpg|thumb|Pete and Chasten Buttigieg in 2019]] Buttigieg [[coming out|came out]] to his family at 18 and soon moved out, living with friends and in his car before returning home about two months later.<ref>Buttigieg, Chasten, ''I Have Something to Tell You''. New York: Atria Paperback, 2020, p. 52.</ref> In 2019, Buttigieg reported he now had a "great relationship" with his parents.<ref name=":2" /> In 2020, Buttigieg shared in his memoir that he was [[Sexual assault|sexually assaulted]] by a friend of a friend when he was 18. The experience left him feeling ashamed for years.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Holmes|first=Juwan J.|date=2020-02-23|title=Chasten Buttigieg opens up about being sexually assaulted & meeting Pete on dating app|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/02/chasten-buttigieg-opens-meeting-pete-dating-app-sexually-assaulted/|access-date=2020-12-19|website=LGBTQ Nation}}</ref>
Chasten and Pete Buttigieg first met on the dating app [[Hinge (app)|Hinge]] in the summer of 2015. They met in person that August while Chasten was in graduate school.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/politics/how-mayor-pete-buttigieg-met-husband-chasten-on-hinge/|title=How Gay Presidential Candidate Pete Buttigieg Met Husband on Hinge and Had 'Ridiculous' First Date|last=Carlson|first=Adam|date=April 22, 2019|website=People|language=en|access-date=2019-04-26}}</ref> They got engaged in December 2017 at [[O'Hare International Airport]], and married on June 16, 2018, at the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal]] [[Cathedral of St. James (South Bend, Indiana)|Cathedral of St. James]] in South Bend; the two appeared at the South Bend Gay Pride block party following their nuptials.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://politi.co/2EvlRbD|title=The President of Nowhere, USA|last=Doster|first=Adam|website=POLITICO Magazine|date=February 16, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-04-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Groppe|first=Maureen|date=December 16, 2020|title=Thanks to Pete Buttigieg, O'Hare Airport is now calling itself a 'place of romance'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/16/ohare-airport-loves-engagement-story-transportation-pick-pete-buttigieg/3928568001/|access-date=2020-12-19|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref> On August 17, 2021, Buttigieg announced on his personal [[Twitter]] account that he and his husband had become parents. On September 4, Pete Buttigieg tweeted a photo of the couple with their newborn adopted twins, a son and a daughter.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ryu|first=Jenna|title=Pete Buttigieg, husband Chasten announce birth of twins with sweet photo|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/09/04/pete-buttigieg-husband-chasten-announce-birth-twins-share-photo/5731911001/|access-date=2021-09-04|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Published works == * ''[[I Have Something to Tell You]]: A Memoir'' (2020) * ''I Have Something to Tell You -- For Young Adults'' (2023) * ''Papa's Coming Home'' (picture book) (2025)
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{C-SPAN}} * {{IMDb name}}
{{Pete Buttigieg}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buttigieg, Chasten}} [[Category:21st-century American educators]] [[Category:21st-century American male writers]] [[Category:21st-century American memoirists]] [[Category:Gay memoirists]] [[Category:American gay writers]] [[Category:American children's writers]] [[Category:LGBTQ American activists]] [[Category:Civil rights activists from Indiana]] [[Category:First ladies and gentlemen of South Bend, Indiana]] [[Category:Indiana Democrats]] [[Category:Pete Buttigieg]] [[Category:DePaul University alumni]] [[Category:LGBTQ people from Indiana]] [[Category:LGBTQ people from Michigan]] [[Category:Michigan Democrats]] [[Category:People from Traverse City, Michigan]] [[Category:Schoolteachers from Indiana]] [[Category:Schoolteachers from Michigan]] [[Category:University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire alumni]] [[Category:Writers from Michigan]] [[Category:Writers from South Bend, Indiana]] [[Category:Catholics from Indiana]] [[Category:Catholics from Michigan]] [[Category:LGBTQ Roman Catholics]] [[Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people]] [[Category:21st-century Roman Catholics]] [[Category:1989 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:LGBTQ rights activists from Michigan]] [[Category:Memoirists from Michigan]]