Trans activist, author, and actress Cecilia Gentili died at age 52, XtraMagazine reported today.
Gentili dedicated her life to advocacy, storytelling, and empowering the transgender community.
“Our beloved Cecilia Gentili passed away this morning to continue watching over us in spirit. Please be gentle with each other and love one another with ferocity,” reads the caption of a photo posted on her Instagram around 3 p.m. ET.
Originally hailing from Argentina, Cecilia arrived in the U.S. in pursuit of a safer life, facing the challenges of being an undocumented transgender woman. For 10 years, she navigated the difficult path of sex work, contending with the associated risks and hardships, including arrests and immigration detention. Despite these tremendous obstacles, Cecilia fought to access recovery services and ultimately won asylum.
Cecilia’s commitment to uplifting the transgender community was evident in her numerous initiatives. She played a pivotal role in founding Decrim NY, advocating for the decriminalization of sex work. Her efforts extended to fighting for the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, leading the NEW Pride Agenda, and working towards expanding access to health services for transgender individuals across New York State.
In 2019, Cecilia established Trans Equity Consulting, where she and her team focused on helping organizations connect with and support trans and queer communities.
“Cecilia Gentili was an extraordinary advocate and an invaluable advisor. With wisdom, honesty, and good humor she challenged us to reconsider our policies in ways that made our practice fairer and more survivor centered,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., who worked with her to make the D.A.’s Office more responsive to and more supportive of witnesses and survivors of all gender identities. “Her impact on our work will continue to inform and transform our approach to doing justice. We are grateful and we are grieved.”
She was one of hundreds arrested at Grand Central Station NYC in October during a demonstration organized by Jewish Voice for Peace to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. Actor Indya Moore took to social media to share that the duo “stomped, cried, resisted, all the way through to jail.”
Her impact on the literary world was also profound, marked by the release of her memoir, Faltas: Letters to Everyone in my Hometown Who Isn’t my Rapist. This groundbreaking work, the first title for feminist publishing house LittlePuss Press, delves into Cecilia’s upbringing as a trans child in 1970s Argentina. The memoir, characterized by its unique narrative structure, captures the zaniness, joy, and complexities of Cecilia’s life.
Last year, Faltas won the Israel Fishman Nonfiction Award at the annual Stonewall Book Award, the first award honoring exceptional LGBTQIA+ books.
Cecilia’s storytelling prowess extended beyond the pages of her book. As a charismatic and spontaneous storyteller, she enchanted audiences with her tales, often weaving together elements of challenge, drama, and resolution.
In a conversation with her editor, Cat Fitzpatrick, Cecilia shared insights into her writing process, emphasizing the importance of addressing both the beauty and pain in her storytelling.
“I wanted to show that misery and pain were part of my story, but there was also beauty and fun and crazy things, and those two things could live together. That was the essence of my show. And that I hope is the essence of my book,” Cecilia said in the October 2022 interview.
Beyond her advocacy work and writing, Cecilia also found joy and expression as a playwright and actress, celebrating the diverse stories within the trans community.
Last fall, Cecilia’s off-broadway run captivated audiences. Red Ink, the campy one-woman show, documented her upbringing in rural Argentina, searching for faith as a trans woman, navigating self-discovery, sex work, and faith.
“How cool is it that I can experience all these things that I am feeling about religion in a show?” she told Interview Magazine in November. “Some people don’t even get to question their relationship with religion, and I get to question it in an off-Broadway show. Religion has been such a foundational aspect of my life that I’ll always have some kind of connection to it. I still crave a sense of community and belonging that I know a lot of people find in faith.”
Gentili’s departure leaves a void in the advocacy and storytelling realms, but her legacy will undoubtedly endure. Her unwavering dedication to amplifying the voices of the trans community and her fearless approach to sharing her own story have left an indelible mark.
“Cecilia was a movement mother and mentor. She was the embodiment of community and was a force for good and justice. She was one of the first people I called after the death of Layleen Polanco. She emceed that initial vigil in her memory and many more after that. She took care of the girls – the dolls – and did so much behind the scenes, more than people know, for her community. And she did it while bringing joy and laughter to everyone she touched…” fellow organizer and Them columnist Eliel Cruz told Reckon. “The movement, NYC’s LGBTQ community, and myself personally will forever be changed by her absence.”
