NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: New York City is on track to become a haven for transgender residents. Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected NYC mayor, spoke about his commitment to the transgender community. The young Democrat promised to stand firmly with transgender people and make the city fully pro-trans.

Sharing a message about the future of transgender rights, he said the city will be a safe place for transgender youth. Even during his mayoral campaign, Mamdani pledged $57 million for medical centers providing gender-affirming care, and an additional $8 million to develop new and expanded resources. He said that he would turn NYC into a “LGBTQIA+ sanctuary city.”
Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference at the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on November 05, 2025 in the Queens borough of New York City. Mamdani won a historic victory to become the city’s 111th mayor, defeating independent mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa (Alexi J Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

Zohran Mamdani vows to make NYC a safe haven for transgender youth

Demonstrators protest for transgender rights in Chicago, Illinois (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
 

A viral clip shows Zohran Mamdani during an interview being congratulated on his election as NYC mayor. The interviewer said, “Zaron! Congratulations on starting your transition! Thank you very much! What would you like to say to trans kids out there who might be starting their transition?”

Mamdani smiled and replied, “Well, while these may be different transitions, we’re going to make this a city that doesn’t just protect trans kids, but also celebrates and cherishes them.”

NYC mayor commits to advancing transgender rights and support

After securing the New York City mayoral seat, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, Zohran Mamdani made it clear that his administration would focus on protecting vulnerable communities, as per LGBTQ Nation. During his victory speech, he emphasized his commitment to supporting transgender individuals and those navigating their transitions.

“In this moment of political darkness, New York will be the light,” Mamdani said. “Here, we believe in standing up for those we love, whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many Black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall. Your struggle is ours, too.”

Earlier in his campaign, Mamdani demonstrated his support for the trans community. He attended a Trans Day of Visibility rally in March and participated in a town hall focused on trans issues in May.

Even though a major part of his platform centered on making the city more affordable, he also stressed the importance of expanding and protecting gender-affirming care. He pledged to make NYC an LGBTQ+ “sanctuary city” and plans to create an Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs to further support the community.

“New York will not sit idly by while trans people are attacked,” he added. “We will deploy hundreds of lawyers to combat Trump’s hate, make New York City an LGBTQIA+ sanctuary city, and create the office of LGBTQIA+ affairs to allocate millions for youth and adult housing programs as well as gender-affirming care.”