Ryan Murphy to host Pete Buttigieg fundraiser
American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy with Presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg (Getty)
American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy is hosting a fundraiser for gay 2020 presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the gay TV creator will host a star-studded June fundraiser for the Democratic challenger, who has gained significant support in his bid for the Democratic nomination.
The private event will take place at Murphy’s home in Los Angeles.
Ryan Murphy, Billy Eichner and Greg Berlanti to co-host fundraiser
A number of gay Hollywood stars are reportedly on board as co-hosts, including Matt Bomer and Billy Eichner, alongside Arrow producer Greg Berlanti and footballer-turned-producer Robbie Rogers.
Murphy has already hosted an event for a rival candidate, Senator Kamala Harris, according to the outlet.
Earlier this month, filings with the Federal Election Commission revealed the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has won donations from other high-profile backers.
Ryan Murphy (Mike Windle/Getty)
Hollywood stars including Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, Glee‘s Jane Lynch, West Wing‘s Bradley Whitford and Mandy Moore of This is Us are among those to have made donations to Buttigieg.
Out TV executives including The L Word creator Ilene Chaiken and How to Get Away with Murder creator Peter Nowalk also backed the candidate, alongside Game of Thrones executive producer Carolyn Strauss.
Pete Buttigieg surging in the polls
Recent polls have shown the candidate surging.
Monmouth and Morning Consult polls on Tuesday (April 23) both found Buttigieg is now in third place nationally with 8 to 9 percent of the Democratic primary vote, behind only former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders.
He is performing even better in the crucial early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire, according to Gravis and UNH polling, garnering 14 and 15 percent of the vote respectively.
Annise Parker of Victory Fund, a Political Action Committee supporting LGBT+ candidates for office, said: “There is enormous power in an openly gay presidential candidate stumping at town halls in Iowa and speaking to Americans from the presidential debate stage – it changes perceptions of our community and raises the bar for candidates who seek LGBTQ support.
“While Mayor Pete’s candidacy is historic and a milestone moment for our community, his meteoric rise is most notable for the support he’s receiving from diverse groups of voters.
“There are enormous minefields and hurdles to running as an openly LGBTQ candidate, and so far, Mayor Pete has gracefully leapt over them on the world’s largest political stage. He’s the real deal.”
