Add ASL to Mayor Pete's List of Languages as He Signs Out Thanks to Supporter

2020 Democratic hopeful - and openly gay mayor of South Bend, Indiana - Pete Buttigieg is known for, among other things, his facility with languages; the multi-lingual candidate even taught himself to read Norwegian in order to read a book he was curious about. But was American Sign Language one of the eight languages in which Mayor Pete is reportedly at least somewhat conversant? Or did he pick that up in order to send out his thanks to the ASL signer who created a way to say "Pete Buttigieg" in sign?

"Hi Andy – thank you for your support, thanks," Buttigieg signed, according to a report carried by political news outlet The Hill.

Buttigieg was responding to the creation, by Deaf Supporter and Deaf advocate Anderson Pleasants, of a sign language way to say his name. Pleasants described the origin of the new sign language way of saying the Democratic candidate's name in a Twitter post that also included a video of Pleasants demonstrating the name.

"Given his new logo has the imagery of a bridge and 'build bridges, not walls,' his sign name is P 'bridged' across the chest to B!" Pleasants tweeted.

I just came up with the sign name for .@PeteButtigieg

Given his new logo has the imagery of a bridge and "build bridges, not walls", his sign name is P "bridged" across the chest to B! pic.twitter.com/2xsd1nQt45– Anderson "Andy" Pleasants (@pleasantandy) April 15, 2019

Pleasants responded to Buttigieg's message to him in a subsequent tweet.

"I teared up," Pleasants confessed.

"It means so much to see a major Presidential candidate actively reach across the communication divide to include those like me, especially in a society where the burden of that divide so often rests on the deaf individual," he added, before encouraging Buttigieg to "Keep signing the sign & walking the walk!"

Buttigieg's language skills have already resulted in two viral moments. In one, the candidate answered a question posed by a Norwegian reporter – in the reporter's own language.

In another, Buttigieg expressed his solidarity with France as the nation reeled in shock after an accidental blaze severely damaged the Notre Dame cathedral.

"To the people of France, I would like to say that Notre Dame Cathedral was like a gift to the human race. We share in the pain but we also thank you for this gift to civilization," Buttigieg said in French.

Mayor Pete, a former Naval intelligence officer, also reportedly speaks Arabic, Dari, Italian, Maltese, and Spanish.