Cecilia Gentili, a well-known transgender activist and performer from “Pose,” passed away on February 6.
She was 52.
In a statement posted on her Instagram site, Gentili’s passing was announced.
The statement read, “Our dearest Cecilia Gentili passed away this morning so that she could continue to watch over us in nature.” “Please be kind to one another and ferociously love each other.” In the coming days, we will be sharing more information about service and what is to occur. We are requesting solitude, moment, and space to grieve at this time.
The Post has contacted representatives for Gentili for comment.
Gentili, who was born in Argentina, first appeared in 1984. She admitted to spending ten years “undocumented” in the US as a former sex worker.
In 2012, she was granted asylum in the US. She was then motivated to assist others with similar backgrounds, which led her to advocate for the rights of undocumented immigrants, sex workers, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
On April 5, 2018, Cecilia Gentili will speak at a press conference on safe consumption spaces (supervised injection facilities) on City Hall’s steps. Banners saying “End Overdose NY” were carried by protesters. via Getty Images, LightRocket
From 2016 to 2019, Gentili served as the director of policy at GMHC, the first and largest organization in the world for HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and advocacy.
She established Trans Equity Consulting in 2019, with the mission of “establishing the leadership of transgender women of color and the centering of sex workers, immigrants, and incarcerated individuals as experts in creating a more just world.”
The first all-trans music event in New York City, Transmissions Fest, which was held on June 21, 2022, was finally co-founded by her. Numerous LGBTQ+ organizations benefited from the proceeds.
She explained to them the purpose of the Pride function, saying, “We are frequently included in Pride situations, but we’re not centered.” There is a difference, too.
Gentili portrayed Miss Orlando, a New York City resident who offered affordable plastic surgery, on the critically acclaimed FX series “Pose,” which aired from 2018 to 2021.
Hundreds of viewers immediately responded to the terrible news after reports of her death were confirmed on social media.
“Without you, Cecilia, our community will never be the same,” declared US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “We appreciate you giving us so much every time, without ceasing. You changed the lives of so many people and shed light on Jackson Heights, Corona, and other places.
Dominique Jackson, a Tobago transgender model who co-starred with her on “Pose,” expressed her “deep sadness” over Gentili’s passing in an online memorial on Tuesday.
On June 5, 2023, Cecilia Gentili attends an after-party for HBO Documentary Films ‘”The Stroll” at the Whitney Museum in New York City. Pictures taken for HBO
“My dear girl, your departure has deeply saddened me!” She penned. “Yet in death, you are a force to be reckoned with; your reputation is one of action, passion, and genuine compassion.” I sincerely appreciate all the work you have done. You gave up being brave enough to speak and live your truth, and as a result, many people’s lives and the entire world have been altered. I adore you always, sweet, strong girl! REST WELL!”
Angelica Ross, the “Pose” actress and the founder and CEO of TransTech Social Enterprises, a company that supports the hiring of transgender people in the tech sector, also remarked on Gentili’s passing, commenting that she was “Such an ardent advocate.” Rest in Authority.
Additionally paying homage, drag comedian Chiquitita shared a picture of the two performing together on stage and declared, “I will cherish your memory for the rest of my life.” I appreciate everything. I appreciate you being a mom to me.
Gentili portrayed Miss Orlando, a New York City resident who offered affordable plastic surgery, on the critically acclaimed FX series, which aired from 2018 to 2021. @ceciliagentili72 on Instagram
Gentili was an author who wrote “Faltas: Letters to Everyone in My Hometown Who Isn’t My Rapist” in 2022 in addition to being an actress and activist.
In an interview, she told them, “I love telling stories.” “For ten stupid years, I’ve been telling the same stories, am I right? But each of my stories is unique. I tell the stories differently depending on where I am, how I feel, and who is listening. I may include sympathy in my story if I feel like people could use a little bit of it. I can be extreme if I believe that people need to learn the harsh reality. You lose that with the text. There is only one way, and it is documented. I therefore detested it when I first started writing these stories.
Finally, however, it was, “What if I write a text?” That was taught to me by Cat [Fitzpatrick, of LittlePuss Press]. What if the stories are a letter’s section? And it was a lovely find, she continued. “Because, in that case, the story is not what it is about.” You want to convey this message to that person.
The text won the Stonewall Book Award from the American Library Association in 2023.