Socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani said during Wednesday night's debate that his political beliefs are based on the belief that human rights extend to gay and transgender people, including in particular “gay and trans Ugandans.”
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) blasted Mamdani for the remark, saying Mamdani was a “divisive force in New York” and a “toxic energy for New York.”
“It's with the Jewish community. It's with the Italian-American community when you point at the Columbus statue. It's with Sunni Muslims when you say 'decriminalize prostitution,' which is haram. It's with Hindus,” Cuomo said, calling out Mamdani for taking a photo with Ugandan official Rebecca Kadaga, who was promoting something that was forbidden. described as “anti-LGBT policy.”
“She is known as Rebecca the Gay Killer Kadaga,” Cuomo said. “Question. You are a Ugandan citizen. You took a photo. You said you didn't know who she was. Turns out you did. How do you not renounce your citizenship and demand BDS against Uganda for imprisoning people who are gay only by their sexual orientation? Isn't that a basic human rights violation?”
Mamdani argued that his policies are “consistent” and “built on a belief in human rights for all people.”
“And that extends to queer and trans New Yorkers, as well as queer and trans Ugandans,” Mamdani said. “And if I had known that the first deputy minister was the author of this law, I would not have taken this photograph.”
“And yet, I also know that this constant attempt to smear and slander me is also an attempt to distract from the fact that, unlike me, you don't actually have a platform or set of policies to protect those same New Yorkers here,” Mamdani told Cuomo. “All you have are the insults you throw at every opportunity.”
LOOK:
Mamdani tried to include LGBT rights in his platform and actually wrote in 2020, “Queer liberation means defunding the police.”
The New York City mayoral election will take place on November 4, 2025.
