LGBTQ+ ally Zohran Mamdani elected Major of New York City
– 2 min read
In a landmark win signalling a progressive turn for America’s largest city, Zohran Mamdani has been elected Mayor of New York City, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. The Associated Press called the race for Mamdani shortly after 9.30pm on Tuesday (4 November), concluding a grassroots campaign that energised young, diverse voters across the five boroughs.
Mamdani, 34, a self-described democratic socialist and long-standing LGBTQ+ ally, ran on a platform combining affordability measures with bold commitments to human rights. His election marks a pivotal moment for LGBTQ+ advocacy in city politics, as he pledged sweeping protections and investment for queer and trans New Yorkers.
Prior to his mayoral bid, Mamdani served in the New York State Assembly, where he championed landmark legislation for LGBTQ+ rights. He fought for the repeal of the state’s anti-loitering statute, known as the “Walking While Trans” law, which disproportionately targeted trans women of colour. He also co-sponsored the Gender Recognition Act, enabling residents to update gender markers on official documents and introducing a gender-neutral “X” option.
In 2023, as conservative states escalated attacks on gender-affirming care, Mamdani backed New York’s shield law, which prevents cooperation with out-of-state investigations into such care. He also publicly supported Proposition 1, a constitutional amendment to enshrine protections against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, which voters approved in 2024.
As mayor-elect, Mamdani has promised to expand gender-affirming care city-wide with a £65 million investment and create an Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs to centralise services related to housing, employment, and health. His administration will also strengthen sanctuary protections for queer and trans residents, ensuring New York remains a safe haven amid national rollbacks of LGBTQ+ rights.
In an October campaign advert honouring Stonewall veteran Sylvia Rivera, Mamdani declared: “We will not sit idly by while trans people are attacked. We’ll deploy hundreds of lawyers to combat hate.” He framed his victory as part of a broader fight against discrimination, saying, “We can’t bring Sylvia back, but we can honour her memory by building a city where trans New Yorkers are cherished.”
Mamdani’s win also underscores a generational and ideological divide. While Cuomo once championed marriage equality and other LGBTQ+ protections as governor, his recent campaign was marred by criticism from queer advocacy groups over staffing choices and perceived wavering on trans rights.
