News for Queer Women

NYC Mayor Mamdani and Gay Dutch Prime Minister Meet LGBTQ Youth

September 25, 2026
Mayor Zohran Mamdani
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Photo by Adam Gray / POOL / AFP via Getty Images

While visiting New York for the UN General Assembly, Dutch PM Rob Jetten visited The Center with Mamdani.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Netherlands’ gay Prime Minister Rob Jetten spoke to queer youth at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Community Center in the city.

The two sat down with LGBTQ+ youth and also learned about its archive.

Jetten, the first out Dutch prime minister and also the youngest, was in the city for the United Nations General Assembly. Earlier in the week, he stopped by the Stonewall Inn.

“For me, it is impressive and moving to be here tonight. And also fitting, because the defense of human rights is an important part of our foreign policy,” he wrote on X. “The Netherlands stands alongside the Stonewall Inn community when it comes to everyone’s right to live openly, safely, and with pride, no matter who you are or who you love.”

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The idea to have Mamdani and Jetten meet at the Center was the mayor’s office’s, according to The Advocate.

After a brief meeting outside, the two sat with the Center’s team to learn more about its work and also met with the young people.

“It’s all about celebrating the diversity for the community, but also explaining to all the visitors that so much work still has to be done all around the globe,” Jetten said, praising the work of the Center.

The young people in attendance showed off zines and other artwork, according to the outlet.

“It’s a really beautiful thing to hear all of you speak about the importance of this place, having created a community in this center,” Mamdani said.

The organization’s CEO, Carla Smith, told The Advocate that she was happy Mamdani recognized the importance of the Center.

“This is a place that many people from around the world come to when they want to explore LGBT [history],” she said. 

One of the youths told the outlet how important the Center was and how excited they were that the two politicians visited.

“It’s really empowering to be with my community and also have resources. Since I’m here, I’m also getting resources to help me in my life,” Jaylynn Gaston told The Advocate. “Sharing that with the mayor and the prime minister of the Netherlands is really imperative, because it’s life-saving to have a space [like this].”

After the meeting, Jetten posted on X, “It was absolutely wonderful to meet Mayor Mamdani here in his city. We visited a community center in the West Village together. The Netherlands and New York are, of course, historically inextricably linked. And in these times, we share the same challenges. For example, when it comes to the urgent need to build far more affordable housing and ensure a safe and livable community for everyone.”

He added: “We also spoke about the great importance that both the Netherlands and New York attach to the rights of the LGBTQI community and the defense of those rights, at a time when those rights are under pressure worldwide.”

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