It’s not every day that a major political candidate releases a campaign ad that centers transgender rights—not as a fleeting mention, not as a line buried in a policy speech, but as the entire focus. Yet that’s exactly what happened in New York City on October 11, 2025, when mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani released a two-minute video that’s since become a talking point across political circles and LGBTQIA+ communities alike. The ad, the fourth episode in Mamdani’s “Until It’s Done” series, doesn’t just nod to the existence of transgender people; it dives deep into their history, struggles, and the urgent need for political courage in their defense.
Set to the hauntingly beautiful instrumental of “It’s OK to Cry” by the late transgender musician SOPHIE (who, as Rolling Stone noted, revolutionized the sound of underground dance and pop before her tragic death in 2021), the video opens with the story of Sylvia Rivera. Rivera was a trailblazing activist whose life and work helped ignite the Stonewall uprising and lay the foundation for the first Pride. Mamdani, standing at the Christopher Street Pier—a place that once served as a haven for queer youth pushed to society’s margins—recounts Rivera’s arrival in New York at age 11, her friendship with Marsha P. Johnson, and her relentless advocacy for those most vulnerable, even when she herself was homeless or struggling with substance abuse.
“Everyone calls me Sylvia. I’ve had this name for nine years. This is respect,” Rivera says in a voiceover, as Mamdani traces her journey from the city’s edges to the center of the gay rights movement. He doesn’t shy away from the darker truths: even within the queer community, trans New Yorkers like Rivera were often excluded, discouraged from walking in Pride, and had their contributions erased from history. “Their participation erased from Stonewall history,” Mamdani notes. “I believe in us getting our rights, or else I would not be out there fighting for our rights,” Rivera’s voice echoes, underscoring the persistence required in the face of adversity.
The ad then pivots to the present, with Mamdani issuing a direct condemnation of former President Donald Trump’s administration. “Since taking office, Donald Trump has waged a scorched-earth campaign against trans people. The man with the most power has expended enormous energy targeting those with the least,” Mamdani declares. According to reporting by The Present Age, this was the line that finally made some viewers, like journalist Katelyn Burns, feel seen by a Democratic politician. “This is the line that connects everything Democrats claim to fight for with trans rights,” Burns wrote.
But Mamdani’s ad isn’t just about symbolism or storytelling. It’s packed with specific, actionable commitments. He pledges to declare New York City an LGBTQIA+ sanctuary, allocate millions to restore transgender healthcare that was defunded under federal pressure, and deploy “hundreds of lawyers” to battle anti-LGBTQ+ federal policies. He also promises to create the Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs, which would oversee the distribution of funds for youth and adult housing programs as well as gender-affirming care. “We can’t bring Sylvia back, but we can honor her memory by building a city where trans New Yorkers are cherished. In a time of darkness, New York must be the light,” Mamdani says in the video.
What makes this ad stand out, according to Xtra Magazine, is not just its content but its context. Over $200 million was spent on ads targeting transgender people in 2024, most of which trafficked in hate rhetoric. While Republicans ramped up attacks, Democrats—advised by centrist consultants—were often urged to drop transgender issues altogether, treating them as political liabilities. The prevailing wisdom after the 2024 election losses was to minimize talk of trans rights, to avoid being seen as “too woke,” and to focus on so-called “kitchen-table issues.”
Yet Mamdani’s approach is a rebuke to that strategy. Rather than sidestepping the issue, he puts it front and center and connects it to the broader fight against powerful interests targeting the vulnerable. His ad draws a stark contrast with other Democratic leaders who have distanced themselves from trans issues. California Governor Gavin Newsom, for instance, has recently courted conservative media, floated bans on gender-affirming care for those under 25, and vetoed bills designed to protect trans residents. In Massachusetts, Rep. Seth Moulton has echoed right-wing talking points about trans girls in sports, framing his rhetoric as a strategic move to win elections. Even Rep. Sarah McBride, the first transgender member of Congress, has cautioned against getting “too far ahead” of public opinion on trans rights, a stance that has drawn criticism from within the community.
But Mamdani’s ad isn’t a one-off. Earlier in 2025, he stood on the front lines of protests against NYU Langone after the hospital dropped transgender patients under Trump administration pressure—a move that few other Democrats called out with the same moral clarity. His actions, taken before his campaign gained major traction, suggest his convictions are deeply held and not simply performative.
“Political issues aren’t siloes, they’re all connected, and Mamdani recognizes that. Other Democrats need to see it too,” Burns wrote, highlighting how trans people intersect with every other group Democrats claim to defend: immigrants, the uninsured, the homeless. Mamdani’s video makes the case that defending trans rights isn’t a distraction or a liability—it’s a measure of whether a political movement is truly committed to justice for all marginalized people.
The ad also doesn’t shy away from the pain and injustice that have marked queer history in New York. Mamdani mentions that Marsha P. Johnson’s body was found at the Christopher Street Pier, “the victim of a suspected murder no one was ever prosecuted for.” By including this, he draws a through-line from the indifference that allowed such tragedies to go unpunished to the current political attacks on trans lives, arguing that the same disregard for trans people persists in different forms.
For many observers, Mamdani’s approach is a lesson in authenticity and conviction. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who won reelection in a state Trump carried by 30 points, offered a similar reflection: “Earning trust and showing people you care about them also requires that we talk to people like normal human beings. I vetoed anti-LGBTQ legislation last year because I believe all children are children of God. And whether people agree with my decision, they know why I’m making it.”
Ultimately, Mamdani’s campaign ad has sparked a conversation that goes beyond New York City, challenging Democrats nationwide to reconsider how they talk about—and fight for—trans rights. By refusing to treat trans people as expendable or politically toxic, he’s showing what’s possible when politicians lead with conviction instead of calculation. It’s a rare but powerful reminder that defending the vulnerable is supposed to be the very heart of progressive politics.
