It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Cecilia Gentili, a beloved transgender actress, author, activist, and icon who passed away at the age of 52 on February 6, 2024. Cecilia, an asylum seeker from Argentina, dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of those often marginalized and overlooked, including undocumented immigrants, sex workers, people living with HIV, and the LGBTQ+ community. In her passing, she leaves behind a legacy of resilience, activism, and unapologetic self-expression.
Cecilia was born in Argentina on January 31, 1972. Due to her lived experiences, she joked that she had a master’s degree in being an immigrant, a sex worker, a trans woman and an addict. Much of her early life was fraught with hardship, adversity, and trauma. As a child, she was sexually abused by a neighbor. When she emigrated from Argentina to the United States, the only work she could find as an undocumented, trans woman was sex work. Due to the criminalization of prostitution in the United States, she was arrested. Even though she was a trans woman, she was frequently placed with male inmates while she was incarcerated and suffered sexual and physical violence. Her early years in the United States were defined by drug addiction, exploitation, and incarceration. Yet, through sheer determination and resilience, she persevered, emerging as a beacon of hope for countless individuals facing similar challenges.
Cecilia’s activism was effective and far-reaching. She worked at The LGBT Center, the NYC Anti-Violence Project, and the Apicha Community Health Center in New York, and then she became the Director of Policy at the GHMC in 2016, an organization dedicated to HIV/AIDS prevention. Cecilia was a legislative powerhouse, playing a critical role in enacting life-saving legislation in New York. During her time at GHMC, she championed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) which was eventually signed into law in 2019. GENDA added gender identity and gender expression as protected classes under New York’s human rights and hate crime laws. Cecilia was also a founding member of Decrim NY, a coalition working to decriminalize, decarcerate, and destigmatize the sex trade in New York. With her help, Decrim NY successfully repealed the “Walking While Trans Ban” in New York, a loitering law that disproportionately targeted trans women and women of color in prostitution arrests. In 2018, she founded her own company, Trans Equity Consulting, that sought to center and uplift trans women of color, immigrants, sex workers, and incarcerated people.
But Cecilia's impact extended far beyond the confines of traditional advocacy. She was a storyteller, a performer, and a source of inspiration for all who had the privilege of knowing her and bearing witness to her art. Through her one-woman, off-Broadway shows, her acclaimed book Faltas: Letters to Everyone in My Hometown Who Isn’t My Rapist, and her breakthrough performance in the groundbreaking FX drama Pose, Cecilia challenged stereotypes, shattered stigma, and paved the way for greater visibility and acceptance for transgender individuals and sex workers alike.
Even in the midst of her remarkable achievements, Cecilia remained humble, grounded, and fiercely devoted to her community. She was a mentor, a friend, and a mother figure to many, offering support, guidance, and unconditional love to all who crossed her path. Her compassion, even more than her indomitable presence, is what the people closest to her will remember her by.
Though Cecilia's life was celebrated by many, her funeral stirred controversy within the Catholic Church, highlighting the ongoing struggle for acceptance and inclusion. Despite being a beloved figure within the LGBTQ+ community, Cecilia’s funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral was met with condemnation from church officials, who labeled the proceedings as “scandalous” and “sacrilegious.” This response reflects a broader disconnect between institutionalized religion and the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, underscoring the need for greater understanding and acceptance within religious communities.
In the face of such criticism, it is important to remember Cecilia’s unwavering commitment to justice and equality. She lived her life with courage, authenticity, and compassion, challenging societal norms and advocating for the rights of those often marginalized and overlooked. While her funeral may have sparked controversy, Cecilia’s legacy will endure as a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come.
As we remember Cecilia Gentili, let us honor her legacy by continuing the fight for justice, liberation, and the acceptance of all individuals, regardless of their gender identity or background. Cecilia’s spirit will live on through the lives she touched and the movements she led. May she rest in power, forever remembered for her strength, resilience, and compassion.
