Mayor Pete Buttigieg ceremonially announced his campaign yesterday in the rain in South Bend, Indiana.

At the end of his speech he and his husband Chasten Buttigieg kissed, getting a round of applause.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg kisses husband Chasten Glezen after announcing he will run for president in 2020 pic.twitter.com/aHH6tXDxfv — The Independent (@Independent) April 15, 2019

Buttigieg is the first LGBTQ candidate in the Democratic presidential primary, and people noticed the historic moment when he kissed his husband on stage and posted an image of them holding hands on his campaign website, an act of defiance that results in harassment and violence for so many same-sex couples today.

Trying to imagine what it would have been like to see this image on the national political stage growing up. Thanks to @PeteButtigieg no generation that follows will have to imagine… pic.twitter.com/9QRubakrps — LZ Granderson (@LZGranderson) April 15, 2019

I love this photo of Pete Buttigieg and his husband Chasten Glezman. It sends a powerful message to every gay kid in the world that they can be anything they want to be, no matter what people tell them. pic.twitter.com/lkTq6Dsb3w — Tom Knight (@TJ_Knight) April 15, 2019

What @PeteButtigieg did today was a mile-marker in history for LGBT youth. I had no one to look up to when I was young. Not one gay adult. Pete (and Chasten!) just changed that today for thousands of kids. Couldn't be prouder :) — Zachary Giano, Ph.D. (@ZachGiano) April 15, 2019

Seeing @PeteButtigieg kiss and embrace his husband @Chas10Buttigieg while announcing his run for President is a big deal and an emotional moment that will forever change our nation for the better :) pic.twitter.com/omszPU8tbF — Marti Gould Cummings (@MartiGCummings) April 15, 2019

Harvey Milk and Edie Windsor are smiling down on @PeteButtigieg today. #PeteForAmerica pic.twitter.com/tDYZ03UeZr — Peter Fox (@thatpeterfox) April 14, 2019

Dan & I sat glued to the TV, bursting with pride as Mayor @PeteButtigieg announced that he is running for President. The young gay boys we were could never have dreamed it possible. Good people are running, we have a way to go, but this campaign is historic, brave and hopeful. 🏳️‍🌈 pic.twitter.com/MewSsuwwhW — Jimmy Van Bramer (@JimmyVanBramer) April 15, 2019

Nearly 50 years ago was Stonewall. 40 years ago Harvey Milk was assassinated. Today, @PeteButtigieg announced his candidacy for President and is currently ranked 3rd in the polls. Never forget the history that made this possible. #PeteForAmerica pic.twitter.com/zWsUMD4F4K — Peter Fox (@thatpeterfox) April 14, 2019

Many people were impressed by Buttigieg’s inspirational speech, which focused on a message of hope.

The announcement of @PeteButtigieg was the most inspiring I’ve seen since @BarackObama’s. He’s not the only candidate I like. But he’s the one whose aspirations for the country I love speak most forcefully to me today. His is a campaign not just for an office but for an era. — Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) April 14, 2019

There have seen a lot of parallels drawn between @PeteButtigieg and @BarackObama. Today reminded me of another one. #PeteForAmerica pic.twitter.com/xJf2sSivd3 — Jenna Ketchmark (@jennaketch) April 14, 2019

Even Chasten Buttigieg said that the historic moment was “unreal.”