New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed a trans woman to run the city’s first ever Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs. Taylor Brown, a nationally recognized civil rights attorney, has become the first trans person to lead a New York City office or agency according to the Office of the Mayor’s official release.
In her new role, Brown will oversee and implement LGBTQIA+ initiatives, developing legal resources to uphold sanctuary protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Mamdani signed an executive order on March 13 at the Brooklyn Community Pride Center in Crown Heights that officially established the new office. The designation of a team to oversee the city’s LGBTQ+ community is a historic first for NYC mayors.
“New York has given me everything, life-saving health care, education, a home, a career, my chosen family, and a life of purpose,” Brown said in a statement. “I will work every day to ensure that the doors of New York City remain open to all and to continue New York City’s legacy as a beacon of opportunity and hope for those who have been ignored, discriminated against, and intentionally excluded.”
“I look forward to working across agencies to ensure that we are protecting the LGBTQIA+ community from hostile actors that do not share New York City’s values,” she added.
Since Mamdani has taken office as NYC’s mayor, he has continuously aligned himself with the LGBTQIA+ community, supporting the re-raising of the Pride flag at the historic Stonewall Inn after it was removed at the demand of the Trump Administration.
Even before he was elected, Mamdani spoke of supporting LGBTQ+ rights in his campaign platform. GLAAD indicates that during his campaign Mamdani revealed a plan to invest $65 million in health care for trans New Yorkers, to compensate for federal losses under Medicaid. He also vowed to create an Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs, a promise he has clearly made good on.
“New York City is proud of its LGBTQIA+ community and will refuse to deny healthcare, safety, or dignity to anyone on the basis of their identity. With Taylor Brown as Director of the new Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs, the city’s queer community will not only be celebrated, but protected at every turn.”
