Mamdani’s new office of LGBTQ Affairs should be replicated in every U.S. city

 - by Spencer Macnaughton
   Uncloseted Media

This story was originally published by Uncloseted Media, an LGBTQ focused investigative news outlet.

On March 13, Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order establishing New York City’s first-ever Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs.

The office’s activities include “assisting agencies in developing and supporting liaisons to the LGBTQIA+ community,” “advancing measures to ensure agencies do not engage in discrimination,” “developing legal resources to ensure the City’s sanctuary protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals are upheld,” and “providing support for LGBTQIA+ people and their families fleeing anti-LGBTQIA+ oppression.”

Mamdani appointed Taylor Brown to lead the agency, making her the highest-ranking transgender person in the history of New York City government.

Mamdani, who has an excellent track record on LGBTQ issues, wrote on X after signing the order: “Queer New Yorkers deserve to be not just protected, but celebrated in this city. Together, we will fight for their right to live a life of dignity, safety, and unabashed pride.”

While more cities and counties have in recent years made similar efforts, many cities—large and small—still have no government bodies designed to address LGBTQ issues.

But in the places that do exist, they’ve had a meaningful impact.

During the COVID-19 pandemic—which disproportionately impacted queer people—Philadelphia’s LGBTQ affairs office released a COVID-19 resource guide for LGBTQ people, including lists of queer-friendly food pantries and health care services, as well as free and reduced Wi-Fi resources from LGBTQ community centers and programs. They later collaborated with the city’s Human Resources Department to develop guidelines and training to better support trans employees, following reports of difficulties by city workers.

In Santa Clara County, Calif., their office is pushing back against the federal government’s attacks on the trans community. Last year, their advocacy helped push the county’s executive director to recommend carving out $1.27 million from the budget for Valley Medical Center’s Gender Health Center amid federal cuts to gender-affirming care.

In Atlanta, their office helped to establish an annual LGBTQ Cultural Humility Training for city employees and elected officials. They also helped allocate $100,000 for HIV program resources and in creating Youth Pride, a festival and summit for LGBTQ youth.

As the federal government continues its unprecedented attack on the LGBTQ community, politicians at the local level must implement stopgaps like offices of LGBTQ affairs to help their queer constituents. And even when Trump is gone, targeted resources that are created by advocates who are explicitly elected to look out for LGBTQ people are critical.

The Gayly online. 3/27/26 @ 10:03 a.m. CST.