South Bend, Indiana mayor and Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg's mom, Anne Montgomery, has said she receives anti-gay hate mail in connection with his candidacy and is worried for his safety.

Montgomery spoke with The Associated Press—which describes her as a "74-year-old retired Notre Dame linguistics professor, with bouncing white curls and a devilish grin"—about the realities of being the mother of the first gay candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

In addition to attending the occasional rally, Montgomery is said to answer about 40 letters per week from supporters, including stories of coming out journeys and notes from parents of LGBTQ children expressing the importance of seeing a gay candidate out on the campaign trail.

"To read them, I realize the terrible time some people have," she said. "The cruelty. The ignorance."

The ignorance is also apparent in the hate mail she gets at home for being Buttigieg's mother, and it has her worried.

"I kind of look around, and especially in this political climate. Let's be honest, you have to worry about public safety," she said.

"I am aware of opposition. So, it's become a part of life really. I want to be reminded of it. I don't want to be where I get careless. It's a presence. Unfortunately, it's a presence."

While those fears are real, she is also focusing on the "hundreds of happy people, really happy, hopeful people," who attend her son's rallies and are hoping he has what it takes to win the Democratic primary and defeat President Donald Trump in the general election.

She is also pleased by her son having found the love of his life in Chasten Buttigieg, whom he married last year.

"I was very glad to see him find someone to share a life with," she said.