A deep dive into Zohran Mamdani’s history of LGBTQ+ pledges as he makes history as New York City’s first Muslim mayor
"With Trump threatening our city’s LGBTQ+ community every day, New Yorkers need a mayor unafraid to stand up for them," said the newly elected mayor
By Aaron Sugg
Zohran Mamdani has made history as he is elected the first Muslim mayor of New York City, promising support for LGBTQ+ rights and trans healthcare in a significant US milestone.
The Democrat of South Asian/African heritage was elected yesterday (4 November), securing 50.4% of the vote in the general election against his closest competitor, Andrew Cuomo, who served as Governor of New York from 2011 to 2021.
Not only does he bring new ethnic diversity to the city’s governing body, but he also has a long record of support for LGBTQ+ rights from his time in the New York State Assembly.
“New Yorkers need a mayor unafraid to stand up for them” – Zohran Mamdani standing up for trans rights against Donald Trump
Moving from Uganda to the United States at age seven, Mamdani is a pioneering trans activist and LGBTQ+ ally, in his campaign for mayor he called out Donald Trump‘s stance on LGBTQ+ rights as “threatening.”
He said in June, when he won the Democratic Party primary: “With Trump threatening our city’s LGBTQ+ community every day, New Yorkers need a mayor unafraid to stand up for them.”
And just days before, the 34-year-old wrote on social media: “Queer and trans people across the United States are facing an increasingly hostile political environment.”
“New York City must be a refuge for LGBTQIA+ people” – Mamdani on LGBTQ+ rights in New York City
He added: “New York City must be a refuge for LGBTQIA+ people, but private institutions in our own city have already started capitulating to Donald Trump’s assault on trans rights.”
Mamdani has pledged to expand and protect gender‑affirming care, proposing investing around $65 million in trans healthcare providers: “Meanwhile, the cost of living crisis confronting working‑class people across the city hits the LGBTQIA+ community particularly hard, with higher rates of unemployment and homelessness than the rest of the city,” he wrote in a social media post.
On Saturday night (1 November), just days before he gained his new title as New York’s City mayor, Mamdani attended two queer events, including a queer nightclub.
In a video posted by Papi Juice, the venue, he said: “I just want to say such a deep thank you to Papi Juice for creating a space for queer and trans New Yorkers.”
“It’s so important to have a space for joy” – Mamdani attending a queer nightclub during his campaign for New York City mayor
He added: “In a city where so much is about struggle, it’s so important to have a space for joy.”
The left-wing politician has also shown his support at public rallies, attending a Trans Day of Visibility rally in March, NYC Pride in June and a trans community town hall in May, which he wrote about fondly on social media.
“Queer and trans people across the United States are facing an increasingly hostile political environment,” he drew attention to the political discourse created by the Trump administration.
“You will have to get through all of us” – Mamdani addressing Trump in his mayor victory speech
As well as declaring his plan to make The Big Apple an LGBTQ+ “sanctuary city,” he has promised to create an Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs, and broaden protections for queer and trans New Yorkers.
In his victory speech last night, he spoke directly to the president of the US: “So Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up.”
“To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us,” he added. “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.”