Turns out mysql_query is in devel lol

roles/gitea/handlers/main.yml

@@ -22,12 +22,15 @@
           - --config
           - /etc/gitea/app.ini
     - name: Promote user to admin
-      mysql_query:
+      command:
-        login_db: gitea
+        argv:
-        login_user: gitea
+          - /usr/bin/mysql
-        login_password: "{{ gitea_mysql_password }}"
+          - gitea
-        query: UPDATE user SET is_admin = 1 WHERE name = %s
+          - -u
-        positional_args:
+          - gitea
-          - "{{ gitea_admin_username }}"
+          - -p
+          - "{{ gitea_mysql_password }}"
+          - -e
+          - 'UPDATE user SET is_admin = 1 WHERE name = {{ gitea_admin_username }};'
   become: yes
   become_user: git