As a committed Democrat, I approach elections with an instinct to support our partys nominee. Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor, offers a bold vision that in many ways resonates with many progressives, including myself.His platform tackles systemic inequities head-on. His focus on the cost-of-living crisis is admirable. Yet, despite my alignment with parts of his agenda, I find myself troubled by Mamdanis ties to Uganda- a nation with a brutal record of anti-LGBTQ+ policies. His ownership of property there and his recent wedding at a family estate in Uganda raise serious questions about his commitment to the values he champions. Related Zohran Mamdani pledged millions to trans health care if elected NYC mayor. He just won a key victory. Let me be clear: Im not endorsing Mamdanis opponents, whether Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa or Eric Adams. My concern lies with Mamdanis personal choices, specifically his financial and cultural connections to Uganda, where laws permit the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality.Born in Uganda, Mamdani owns four acres of land and a high-security compound where he celebrated his wedding in June. For a candidate who has spoken passionately about queer liberation, this feels like a jarring contradiction. How can someone advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in New York while maintaining ties to a country that criminalizes queer existence? Its also ironic because Mamdanis wedding was surrounded by armed guards, despite the fact that Mamdani has supported the defund the police movement back home in New York. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today This isnt about doubting Mamdanis intentions. His policy plans for marginalized communities in New York are commendable. But good intentions dont erase the dissonance of profiting from property in a nation that violates basic human rights. If Mamdani is serious about his principles, he should sell his Ugandan property, publicly reject further personal investment there, and commit to withholding tourism dollars until the country repeals its discriminatory laws.As former Gov. Cuomo said, silence can be a form of violence. Mamdanis failure to act risks undermining his credibility as a progressive leader. As a Democrat, I want to back our nominee, but other aspects of Mamdanis record give me pause. His association with the phrase globalize the intifada and long-standing support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel dating back to his college years contrast starkly with his apparent reluctance to apply similar scrutiny to his own ties to Uganda. If he champions divestment in one context, why not in another where human rights abuses are undeniable? Leadership demands moral clarity, especially when advocating for vulnerable people. Mamdanis platform offers much to admire his focus on economic justice initiatives is bold and necessary. But his refusal to address his Ugandan connections risks alienating those of us who see hypocrisy as a betrayal of trust.Divesting from Uganda and publicly disavowing its anti-LGBTQ+ policies would demonstrate that his commitment to justice extends beyond rhetoric. I want to believe in Zohran Mamdani. His vision for a more equitable New York aligns with many of my values. But until he reconciles his personal ties with his public stance by cutting financial and cultural connections to a nation that persecutes the communities he claims to champion I struggle to fully support him.New York deserves a mayor whose actions match their words. Mamdani has the opportunity to prove hes that leader by taking a stand. The choice is his.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.