Cecilia Gentili, a prominent trans activist, author, and actor, passed away on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. She was 52 years old. The news of her death was announced on her Instagram account, which said that she “passed away this morning to continue watching over us in spirit.” The cause of her death has not been disclosed yet.
Gentili was born in Argentina and moved to the United States at the age of 26, seeking a safer and more authentic life as a trans woman. She faced many challenges and hardships, including sex work, addiction, and incarceration. She overcame these obstacles and became a fierce advocate for the rights of trans people, sex workers, immigrants, and other marginalized communities.
A Life of Service of Cecilia Gentili
Cecilia Gentili dedicated her life to public health and social justice, working with various organizations and initiatives that aimed to improve the lives of trans people and others. She worked as the director of policy and public affairs at Apicha Community Health Center, a health care provider for LGBTQ+ and Asian and Pacific Islander communities. She also worked as the assistant director of public affairs at GMHC (formerly the Gay Men’s Health Crisis), the world’s first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and advocacy.
In 2019, she founded Trans Equity Consulting, a group that provides LGBTQ-affirming services and trainings in the workplace. In 2021, she launched Cecilia’s Occupational Inclusion Network, a program that offers free health care for sex workers, in partnership with Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, a leader in LGBTQ health care and research.
Gentili was also involved in policy and legislative advocacy, pushing for laws and reforms that would protect and empower trans people and sex workers. She was instrumental in the passage of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) in New York, which added gender identity and expression as protected categories under the state’s human rights and hate crimes laws.
She also advocated for the repeal of the “walking while trans” ban, a law that allowed police to arrest people for loitering with the intent to engage in prostitution, which disproportionately targeted trans women of color.
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A Passion for Art and Culture
Gentili was not only an activist, but also an artist and a cultural icon. She was an author, a storyteller, a comedian, and an actor. She published her memoir, “Sorry, Not Sorry,” in 2020, which chronicled her life experiences and struggles as a trans woman and an immigrant. She won the Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Nonfiction for her book in 2021.
Cecilia Gentili also performed in various shows and events, such as “The Moth,” “Risk!,” and “Snap Judgment,” where she shared her stories with humor and honesty. She was a regular host and performer at “Rebel Cupcake,” a queer dance party and cabaret in Brooklyn. She also appeared in several films and TV shows, such as “Disclosure,” “The Garden Left Behind,” and “Pose.”
“Pose” was a groundbreaking show that depicted the lives of LGBTQ+ people of color in the ballroom scene of New York in the 1980s and 1990s. Gentili played the role of Miss Orlando, a mother figure and mentor to the young trans women in the House of Ferocity. She appeared in four episodes of the show from 2018 to 2021. She was praised for her performance and her contribution to the representation and visibility of trans people on screen.
A Legacy of Love and Inspiration
Cecilia Gentili’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and gratitude from her friends, family, colleagues, and fans. Many people have expressed their admiration and appreciation for her work, her spirit, and her impact. They have shared their memories and tributes on social media, using hashtags such as #RIPCeciliaGentili and #TransLivesMatter.
Some of the notable figures who have honored Gentili include New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who called her “a champion in the trans rights movement”; GLAAD CEO and President Sarah Kate Ellis, who said that she “impacted so many, especially those in the trans community in New York City and beyond”; and Dominique Jackson, her co-star on “Pose,” who referred to her as a “dear sister” and a “force to be reckoned with.”
Gentili’s legacy will live on through her work, her art, and her love. She touched the lives of countless people with her courage, her compassion, and her charisma. She inspired many people to be themselves, to fight for their rights, and to love one another with ferocity. She was a trans icon, a role model, and a hero. She will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.
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