To mark Pride Month, City & State’s 2021 Pride Power 100 – which was researched and written in partnership with freelance journalist Gabriel Arana – recognizes the LGBTQ leaders who are still striving for full equality. While gay and lesbian individuals enjoy growing acceptance, transgender New Yorkers, including those of color, still confront prejudice and discrimination in their everyday lives. New York leaders are battling back against anti-trans bills passed in state legislatures around the country while pushing for further protections here at home. Of course, plenty of political and policy battles remain. And while the four openly gay men in the New York City Council are term-limited, a larger and more diverse cohort of LGBTQ candidates are well positioned to win their races this year. Ritchie Torres and Mondaire Jones – to serve in Congress and New York City’s first two transgender district leaders. In the past year, voters elected the first two openly gay Black men – Reps. Meanwhile, LGBTQ elected officials hold influential posts. More recently, state lawmakers passed measures protecting transgender, gender nonconforming and non-binary New Yorkers, barring conversion therapy and repealing the “walking while trans” ban. A decade ago, the state legalized same-sex marriage. New York’s LGBTQ community has plenty to be proud of.
