What Zohran Mamdani's Mayoral Win Means for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers
A moment of hope and potential change for our community
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A New Kind of Hope
Well everyone. We did it.
Zohran Mamdani has just been elected mayor of New York City, making history as the city’s first Muslim mayor.
For queer and transgender New Yorkers like myself, this moment feels like witnessing history and marks a shift that carries both hope and change. New York City has always been a place that holds me and my community, yet also manages to hurt us at the same time.
But something about Mamdani’s win feels different. It feels intentional, even…genuine?
His entire campaign spoke to the diverse population that makes up New York City. And for once, queer and transgender people were not an afterthought. We were actively included in the conversation and I would often see him at many of the rallies for.
Here’s what his plans include:
Make NYC a true sanctuary for queer and transgender people. Strengthen city protections for safety, inclusion, and belonging.
Allocate $65 million to expand gender-affirming care. Invest in trans healthcare through public providers and hold hospitals accountable for providing access.
Create a Mayoral Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs. Coordinate housing, healthcare, and employment support for community members.
Address the housing and cost of living crisis. Because economic justice is collective survival.
Pass Intro 0625-2024. Secure safer housing for incarcerated transgender and gender-expansive people.
Initial Thoughts
As a transmasculine person who has seen performative allyship and empty promises once elections end, I am still cautiously optimistic about the future of New York City.
These changes sound promising, but what matters now is whether Zohran and his team can turn them into reality. I want to see transgender and HIV/AIDS health programs receive that $65 million in funding. I want to see more investment in nonprofits led by queer and trans leaders. And I want the future Mayoral Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs to center the voices of Black, Brown, and immigrant queer people from the very beginning.
New York does not need more promises. It needs proof. Proof that queer and trans people can live, heal, and build a future here without having to constantly fight for space.
If Zohran delivers even part of that, then maybe I can finally believe that we are coming out stronger on the other side.
What are your thoughts about Zohran as New York City’s new mayor? What gives you hope about his plans for the LGBTQ+ community?