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FDNY Makes History: First Openly Gay Commissioner Appointed
23 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Lillian Bonsignore will be the first openly gay FDNY commissioner.
- Bonsignore is a 31-year veteran retiring in 2022.
- She previously made history as the first openly gay Chief of EMS.
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is poised to appoint Lillian Bonsignore as the new FDNY commissioner. This significant appointment, expected to be announced soon, will mark a historic moment as Bonsignore becomes the first openly gay individual and the second woman to lead the department.
Bonsignore brings an extensive 31-year tenure with the FDNY, having retired in 2022. Her career includes a previous trailblazing achievement in 2019 when she was sworn in as the FDNY's first openly gay Chief of EMS, demonstrating a long history of breaking barriers.
Her tenure as commissioner will commence after Mamdani's inauguration on January 1st. This news follows outgoing Mayor Eric Adams' appointment of Mark Guerra as fire commissioner, who will serve temporarily until Bonsignore assumes her role.
