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When Pete Buttigieg asked Rev. Al Sharpton for advice on campaigning for president in the Souths Bible Belt as an openly gay white man, the civil rights leader responded, I think you should say, I am who I am.

ButtigiegmetSharpton for lunch at the landmark Harlem soul food restaurant Sylvias on Monday to discuss the need to confront homophobia in the faith community as well as the South Bend mayors policy agenda for the black community in Indiana and around the country, according to a campaign statement.

We need to deal with homophobia in the faith in the black community, said Sharpton.

In the past month, Buttigieg hasclashedwith Vice President Mike Pence over his faith and sexuality; faced antigay protestors and hecklers outside of hishomeand on thecampaign trail; and received criticism from evangelical leaderFranklin Graham, who said the mayors homosexual lifestyle was not something to be flaunted, praised or politicized.

You should be judged on your merits, Sharpton told Buttigieg, who sat across from him at a table for two. And we cant fight against bigotry based on race and were going to be bigots based on sexual orientation.

Sharpton suggested Buttigieg put the black LGBT community on the table, particularly when the mayor returns to campaign in South Carolina next month.

Buttigieg laid out his agenda for black voters, which he said focuses on homeownership, entrepreneurship, health, education, and criminal justice. But he also touched on issues that have given black voters pause. Buttigieg talked about hisfiringof South Bends first African-American police chief, a decision he said still stings with the black community. Later in front of reporters, Buttigieg reiterated his opposition to giving incarcerated felons the right to vote.

While Mayor Pete has risen to national prominence and has become a factor in the crowded Democratic presidential field, South Bends black residents have expressedlukewarm attitudestoward him and he still has along wayto go towin overblack voters across the country. Perhaps in an attempt to make up that ground, Buttigieg has now met twice in one month with Sharpton, who called him very much authentic and firm in who he was and what he represented.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg, right, meets with Rev. Al Sharpton in Harlem. (Photo: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

In early April, Buttigieg and other Democratic hopefuls spoke at Sharptons National Action Network annual conference. It was there that Buttigieg called for abolishing the death penalty and said he would sign a bill to commission a study on reparations for descendants of slaves.

Sitting across from Sharpton in Sylvias, as Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., had donemonths before, Buttigieg candidly outlined his campaign strategy to reach diverse constituencies around the U.S, comparing it to rock climbing.

I know Ive got a handhold with the LGBT community [which] is a minority, but also touches every other part of the coalition, he told Sharpton during lunch, which he apparentlydidnt knowwas being broadcast live. Or people in the Midwest Ive got a handhold there. So I can reach into the Latino community ... just take whatever relationships we have, then try to use those to reach other people.

The problem I have is some people will just come find me, Buttigieg continued. Theyll come to my rally, theyll rush to my event, theyll be at my fundraiser. But if Im only talking out to the people who come to me, its not going to become more diverse.

So youre going to reach out? interjected Sharpton with a wide, sweeping arm gesture.

I got to, said Buttigieg.

Its important for this midwestern mayor to come to the mecca of black America, Harlem, to speak to our premier leader of black communities, said Alvin Ponder, leader of NANs New York City chapter, who called Buttigiegs appearance with Sharpton good politics. The black vote is going to be extremely significant in the 2020 election. ...[H]es more in line with my views, which are between moderate and progressive.

But while politically savvy New Yorkers recognized Buttigieg on Malcolm X Blvd. and struggled to pronounce his name others failed to see the cause for commotion.

Jerome, 31, from East New York, was having lunch at Sylvias when Sharpton and Buttigieg showed up trailed by men in suits and cameras. He recognized the reverend but couldnt name the presidential candidate. Then again, he said he likely wouldnt have recognized some of theother 182020 hopefuls anyhow.

I kind of lost interest in politics, he told Yahoo News. When Hillary won the popular vote, but Trump ended up winning the election, it was kind of discouraging.

Jerome, who nonetheless plans on voting in 2020, said Buttigiegs race and sexual orientation didnt matter to him but called it a good thing for Buttigieg to come to Harlem. Hopefully, this is him having good intentions, being genuine and actually seeing what issues black folks care about, said Jerome.

Democratic presidential candidate and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg comes to Harlem. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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In Harlem, Al Sharpton tells Pete Buttigieg to be himself