
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his husband Chasten have announced they are going to be parents.
The news is wonderful for their family and it also makes them the most high profile LGBTQ couple in U.S. politics to have a child.
"For some time, Chasten and I have wanted to grow our family. We're overjoyed to share that we've become parents!" Pete tweeted. "The process isn't done yet and we're thankful for the love, support, and respect for our privacy that has been offered to us. We can't wait to share more soon."
For some time, Chasten and I have wanted to grow our family. We\u2019re overjoyed to share that we\u2019ve become parents! The process isn\u2019t done yet and we\u2019re thankful for the love, support, and respect for our privacy that has been offered to us. We can\u2019t wait to share more soon.— Pete Buttigieg (@Pete Buttigieg) 1629220527
Chasten seconded his husband's tweet.
Some news!https://twitter.com/petebuttigieg/status/1427680484109262848\u00a0\u2026— Chasten Glezman Buttigieg (@Chasten Glezman Buttigieg) 1629220538
The couple haven't discussed the process they've used to have a child. But Chasten told The Washington Post last month they have been working to adopt a child for over a year. The couple married in 2018.
"It's a really weird cycle of anger and frustration and hope," Chasten admitted. "You think it's finally happening and you get so excited, and then it's gone.'' The couple has had a few near misses with adoption getting so close they've picked out names and shopped for baby accessories only to have things fall through.
After Pete was named the Secretary of Transportation in the Biden administration the couple sold their home in South Bend Indiana and moved to an apartment in Washington, D.C. with their dogs.
The news may have come fast for the couple. They had recently signed up to be put on a list to adopt a child that was abandoned or surrendered.
The Buttigieg's received a lot of love and support from adoptive parents after the announcement.
As gay dads of FIVE adopted kids, my husband @RobertCooper58 and I want to offer you and Chasten our heartfelt congrats!! We're so happy for you both!! ❤️❤️
— Jon Cooper 🇺🇸 (@joncoopertweets) August 17, 2021
As an adoptive mother, I cried reading this. I know that call! It's one of the most beautiful and overwhelming moments of your life! All the love to the growing family!
— AltJennyG (@AltJennyG1) August 17, 2021
My husband and I adopted our baby girl 18 years ago! Now she's headed off to college at Michigan State on an athletic scholarship and just voted for the first time in the #NoOnTheRecall. Those 18 years pass by quickly so enjoy every minute! pic.twitter.com/GYDH8bZX1U
— Clark Williams (@clarkwilliams1) August 17, 2021
Congrats to you both and welcome to club! Parenthood isn't for everyone, but it was truly transformed our lives for the better. pic.twitter.com/bsapnxny3w
— David & Josh (@RockandLedge) August 17, 2021
Congrats!!! So thrilled for you! ❤️🌈✨ Here's our family. Thrilled to welcome you to fatherhood! https://t.co/S8VYm40F9p
— Scott Hadland, MD (@DrScottHadland) August 17, 2021
My husband, our two sons, and I are very excited for you and @Chasten! Best wishes on building a family!
— David Lytle (@davitydave) August 17, 2021
Babygieg? We're all in.
Babygieg!!!! 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/0otN93hxEH
— Danny New (@DannyNewTV) August 17, 2021
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There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't
Turns out, there's a neurodivergent link.
A woman in black long sleeve shirt stands in front of mirror.
Have you ever had that friend who goes on vacation for four days to London and comes back with a full-on Queen's English posh accent? "Oooh I left my brolly in the loo," they say, and you respond, "But you're from Colorado!" Well, there are reasons they (and many of us) do that, and usually it's on a pretty subconscious level.
It's called "accent mirroring," and it's actually quite common with people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According Neurolaunch, the self-described "Free Mental Health Library," "Accent mirroring, also known as accent adaptation or phonetic convergence, is the tendency to unconsciously adopt the accent or speech patterns of those around us. This linguistic chameleon effect is not unique to individuals with ADHD, but it appears to be more pronounced and frequent in this population."
Essentially, when people have conversations, we're constantly "scanning" for information—not just the words we're absorbing, but the inflection and tone. "When we hear an accent, our brains automatically analyze and categorize the phonetic features, prosody, and intonation patterns," writes Neurolaunch. For most, this does result in copying the accent of the person with whom we're speaking. But those with ADHD might be more sensitive to auditory cues. This, "coupled with a reduced ability to filter out or inhibit the impulse to mimic…could potentially explain the increased tendency for accent mirroring."
While the article explains further research is needed, they distinctly state that, "Accent mirroring in individuals with ADHD often manifests as an unconscious mimicry of accents in social situations. This can range from subtle shifts in pronunciation to more noticeable changes in intonation and speech rhythm. For example, a person with ADHD might find themselves unconsciously adopting a Southern drawl when conversing with someone from Texas, even if they’ve never lived in the South themselves."
People are having their say online. On the subreddit r/ADHDWomen, a thread began: "Taking on accents is an ADHD thing?" The OP shares, "My whole life, I've picked up accents. I, myself, never noticed, but everyone around me would be like, 'Why are you talking like that??' It could be after I watched a show or movie with an accent or after I've traveled somewhere with a different accent than my 'normal.'
They continue, "Apparently, I pick it up fast, but it fades out slowly. Today... I'm scrolling Instagram, I watch a reel from a comedian couple (Darcy and Jeremy. IYKYK) about how Darcy (ADHD) picks up accents everywhere they go. It's called ADHD Mirroring??? And it's another way of masking."
(The OP is referring to Darcy Michaels and his husband Jeremy Baer, who are both touring comedians based in Canada.)
Hundreds of people on the Reddit thread alone seem to relate. One comments, "Omfg I've done this my whole life; I'll even pick up on the pauses/spaces when I'm talking to someone who is ESL—but English is my first language lol."
Sometimes, it can be a real issue for those around the chameleon. "I accidentally mimicked a waitress's weird laugh one time. As soon as she was out of earshot, my family started to reprimand me, but I was already like 'oh my god I don’t know why I did that, I feel so bad.'"
Many commenters on TikTok were shocked to find out this can be a sign of ADHD. One jokes, "Omg, yes, at a store the cashier was talking to me and she was French. She's like 'Oh are you French too? No, I'm not lol. I'm very east coast Canada."
And some people just embrace it and make it work for them. "I mirror their words or phrase! I’m 30. I realized I start calling everyone sweetie cause my manager does & I work at coffee shop."