First gay minister in Biden's cabinet

Staff Reporter, USA: Pete Buttigieg has been named the first gay minister in US President Joe Biden's cabinet. Pete a former mayor of South Band City, Indiana, was a candidate in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. He is the first gay minister in U.S. history. The confirmation elevates Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana and a US Navy veteran who served in Afghanistan as a military intelligence officer, to the leadership of a sprawling federal agency at just 39 years of age. "Mr. Buttigieg is committed to working with members from both sides to improve rail and transit, highways, and more-in rural communities, urban centers, and everywhere in between," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said before the vote. Biden has said he is eager to put together a sweeping infrastructure package. Buttigieg, who like Biden ran as a moderate Democrat, could be instrumental in winning over bipartisan support. BP/SM