ABC News Live will premiere its new election-cycle interview series “Running Mates” tonight during its primetime newscast at 7:00 p.m. ET
Anchored by Linsey Davis, the debut will feature an exclusive interview with Chasten Buttigieg, husband of former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana.
In an advance clip from tonight’s interview, Davis brings up recent comments by conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh who suggested America is not ready to elect a “gay guy kissing his husband” on the debate stage.
Questioning Buttigieg’s electability on his radio show, Limbaugh described the former Indiana mayor as “a 37-year-old gay guy kissing his husband on stage, next to ‘Mr. Man,’ Donald Trump.”
Davis asks Chasten his thoughts on the remarks.
“Well, look this isn’t new,” begins the 30-year-old educator. “I’ve been dealing with this my whole life. I’d I dealt with a multitude of Rush Limbaugh’s when I was walking through the hallways of my high school.”
The potential ‘First Gentlemen’ adds that “LGBTQ Americans have to come out every single day.”
“When somebody asks who were married to, or asks about your partner, or you’ll feel like you want to share something about yourself but then you have to second guess how that person’s gonna react if I say ‘Well, my husband’ instead of ‘my wife.'” explains Chasten.
“I’ve been dealing with the likes of Rush Limbaugh my entire life,” he continues. “What I’m actually worried about are the young people in this country who are watching the historic nature of this campaign. Watching how people talk about it, watching how people react to it and treat it. And wondering if this country is actually a safe place for them to be.”
Airing two primetime news hours at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. ET, the streaming news channel is available on ABCNews.com, Roku, Hulu, Sling TV, Xumo, the ABC News mobile and OTT apps.
