New York City Comptroller Brad Lander on Tuesday received endorsements from three prominent LGBTQ+ political organizations as he campaigns to become the next mayor.
The Stonewall Democrats, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, and the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club all formally backed Lander, citing his longstanding record on LGBTQ+ rights and progressive legislation, his campaign announced in a press release on Thursday.
Lambda ranked him as its top choice, while Stonewall Democrats placed him second. Jim Owles included him in an unranked slate of endorsed candidates.
“I’m honored to receive the endorsements from the top LGTBQ+ organizations in New York City, who’ve paved the way for millions of LGTBQ+ New Yorkers to live freely in our City by fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, which are evermore threatened by the Trump Administration,” said Lander. “In the coming weeks, I’ll be releasing my LGBTQ+ platform to ensure New York City remains a beacon and safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community, especially in the face of national heightened bigotry.”
Lander also discussed LGBTQ+ issues alongside drag performer Kiki Ball Change, who announced she would endorse him as well.
As a City Council member, Lander co-sponsored legislation banning conversion therapy, creating gender-neutral bathrooms and supporting inclusive education on HIV and AIDS. He also introduced a law requiring city forms to collect gender pronouns and supported the option of an “X” gender marker on birth certificates. His partnership with Girls for Gender Equity led to an inclusive school dress code policy.
Lander co-authored the Community Safety Act with former Council Member Jumaane Williams, a key measure against bias-based policing, and funded Drag Story Hour programming in Brooklyn libraries.
In his role as Comptroller, Lander has sounded the alarm on threats to LGBTQ+ services under a potential second Trump administration. His office released a report warning about risks to federal funding for LGBTQ+ programs and created a tool to track affected services. He also convened city leaders and advocates to strategize around safeguarding trans health care and other essential services.
