Controversy Surrounds NYC Mayor Candidate Zohran Mamdani
This week, the former governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, has been ramping up his critiques of independent candidate Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani, a self-identified socialist, has drawn attention for his Ugandan property ownership, particularly given Uganda’s severe anti-LGBT policies.
Cuomo, in a post on social media, highlighted a “No-Show Congressman” who was allegedly on vacation in Uganda, a country notorious for its treatment of LGBTQIA+ individuals. He stated, “Silence is violence. I hereby call for boycotts, sales, and sanctions on your property in Uganda, and promise to hinder their tourist spending until they overturn their discriminatory laws that violate basic human rights.”
Mamdani was born in Uganda and faced backlash for celebrating his wedding there at the end of June, complete with armed security. Critics—including Republican opponent Curtis Sliwa—have labeled him a hypocrite for advocating police funding back home while employing heavy security abroad.
Cuomo’s comments seem to resonate with concerns regarding Mamdani’s past support for Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) against Israel, stemming from his college years. Meanwhile, Mamdani continues to advocate for compensation and police abolition, echoing sentiments from a radical perspective.
Meanwhile, Fox News Digital has reached out to Mamdani’s campaign for responsive commentary.
Uganda has a notorious history for its government policies against LGBTQ individuals, highlighted by the constitutional court’s upholding of anti-gay laws last year, which even introduced the death penalty for certain homosexual acts.
Mamdani recently expressed, “Queer and trans people across the U.S. are facing an increasingly hostile political landscape. New York City must become a haven for LGBTQIA+ individuals, yet we see private institutions falling prey to attacks on trans rights. The living costs are hurting LGBTQIA+ communities more than others in the city.” He further promised that his administration would protect LGBTQIA+ residents and work toward establishing New York City as a sanctuary city for the community, along with creating an office for LGBTQIA+ Affairs.
