Queer and Jewish: NY’s Political Crossroads.
In the days following the October 7th Hamas massacre, I wrote an article in The Lancet about the silence of many global LGBTQ+ voices in the face of unspeakable violence against Israeli civilians. As a gay Israeli doctor and activist, I raised what has now become a hauntingly urgent question: Can Jewish LGBTQ+ individuals still count on the progressive spaces we helped build?
That question feels even more relevant today, as Zohran Mamdani, a progressive New York State Assemblyman with deep grassroots support, is now considered a leading contender to win the next mayoral race—his chances estimated at around 80% by some political observers.
Mamdani is a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, racial equity, and economic justice. But he is also a vocal critic of Israel—often in ways that many Jewish New Yorkers find not just uncomfortable, but deeply alienating.
In June 2025, Mamdani publicly defended the chant “Globalize the Intifada,” describing it as a call for universal human rights rather than violence. He even drew a comparison between the term “intifada” and the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, referencing Arabic translations at the Holocaust Memorial Museum. But he refused to clearly denounce the slogan, one many Jewish leaders see as celebrating anti-Jewish terrorism. The backlash was swift, especially from Jewish LGBTQ+ groups who felt betrayed.
To be fair, Mamdani has repeatedly stated that he condemns antisemitism and violence. He has expressed support for the safety of Jewish New Yorkers, pledging funding for anti-hate initiatives and making efforts to engage with the community. But the broader issue goes beyond any one politician.
Today, the border between anti-Zionism and antisemitism has become dangerously blurred. And this blurring is forcing Jewish LGBTQ+ individuals—especially in places like New York—to face a painful paradox: Do we support a candidate who champions our queer rights, but delegitimizes our Jewish identity and our connection to Israel? Or do we turn to candidates who acknowledge our history and peoplehood but may offer less on LGBTQ+ issues?
This isn’t just a theoretical conflict. It’s a lived dilemma, one that touches the very core of who we are. We are not just LGBTQ+ or just Jewish—we are both. And yet, in today’s political climate, we’re often expected to choose.
The irony is cruel: In Israel, LGBTQ+ people enjoy full legal protections, serve openly in the military, and live freely. In many of the countries and movements embraced by anti-Zionist activists, queer existence is punishable by imprisonment—or worse. And yet somehow, being Jewish and supportive of Israel has become incompatible with being “progressive enough.”
So to all my gay and LGBTQ+ friends in New York, I ask you this:
When your identity is on the ballot—who are you going to vote for?
