NYC Mayor Appoints Transgender Person to Lead New LGBTQIA+ Affairs Office

Taylor Brown will be the first transgender individual to lead a city agency or office in New York.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 12:05am

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the creation of the Office for LGBTQIA+ Affairs and appointed transgender-identifying attorney Taylor Brown as its inaugural director. Brown will be the first transgender person to lead a city agency or office in New York.

Why it matters

The creation of the new LGBTQIA+ Affairs Office and the appointment of a transgender director signals the city's commitment to celebrating and protecting its LGBTQIA+ community. This move is seen as an important step towards greater inclusion and representation for the queer community in New York City.

The details

The new Office for LGBTQIA+ Affairs will absorb the previous NYC Unity Project established under the de Blasio administration. The office will work to ensure that transgender and other LGBTQ+ members of the community have access to city services and are protected from "hostile actors." Mamdani said the city has the highest number of "queer" people of any city in the U.S.

  • The Office for LGBTQIA+ Affairs was announced on March 14, 2026.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who announced the creation of the Office for LGBTQIA+ Affairs.

Taylor Brown

A transgender-identifying attorney who was appointed as the inaugural director of the new Office for LGBTQIA+ Affairs, making him the first transgender person to lead a city agency or office in New York.

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What they’re saying

“New York City is proud of its LGBTQIA+ community and will refuse to deny health care, safety, or dignity to anyone on the basis of their identity.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

“New York has given me everything — life-saving health care, education, a home, a career, my chosen family, and a life of purpose. I am so proud to serve this city as the inaugural director of the Mayor's Office for LGBTQIA+ Affairs.”

— Taylor Brown, Director, Office for LGBTQIA+ Affairs

What’s next

The new Office for LGBTQIA+ Affairs is expected to begin operations in the coming months, with a focus on ensuring the city's queer community has access to necessary services and protections.

The takeaway

The creation of the Office for LGBTQIA+ Affairs and the appointment of a transgender director demonstrate New York City's commitment to promoting LGBTQIA+ inclusion and representation in local government. This move is seen as an important step towards greater equity and support for the city's queer community.