. @PeteButtigieg & @Chasten were always so open & genuinely themselves while campaigning. They shared deeply personal stories with incredible vulnerability. It’s vital to acknowledge that they chose that vulnerability *knowing they were at risk of being murdered by homophobes*. https://twitter.com/italians4pete/status/1265040150339489792

This is 1 reason I have no patience for reporters who congratulate themselves for merely taking Pete seriously as a leader (AFTER Obama called him the future of the Dem party!) but who said nothing about homophobic attacks or smear campaigns that they knew were disinformation.

Especially when said reporters demonstrated repeatedly that they didn’t really take Pete that seriously, and that they actually resented him as soon as he became a viable contender and was no longer a novelty in their eyes. I

But I digressed from my point.
When you’re under attack, it’s natural to put your armor on—in every way. It’s natural to get defensive & clam up. Pete & Chasten never did that. Not only did they bravely continue campaigning, they *chose radical vulnerability* & it SAVED LIVES!

Those courageous choices, made over and over again every single day, will always be part of their phenomenal legacy, no matter what else happens. They are both heroes. Their campaign was such an honor to witness! I will never stop feeling fortunate to “know” them.

(I wish this were two separate threads. Oh well. It was extemporaneous.)

Cut to this if you want to skip my mini-rant about certain reporters!
https://twitter.com/holyspacemonkey/status/1265276473696346119?s=21 https://twitter.com/holyspacemonkey/status/1265276473696346119