The Legacy of Cecilia Gentili: Champion for Trans Rights and Sex Worker Justice

Cecilia Gentili was a trailblazing transgender Latina activist whose work reshaped conversations around sex work, trans rights, and healthcare access. Her legacy continues to inspire communities worldwide.

A Life Rooted in Advocacy

Cecilia Gentili (1972–2024) was born in Argentina and later moved to the United States, where she became a powerful voice for marginalized communities. She held leadership roles at organizations like GMHC and Apicha Community Health Center, focusing on HIV/AIDS care and LGBTQ+ health. Her activism was deeply personal—rooted in her own experiences as a transgender immigrant and sex worker—and she transformed those struggles into platforms for systemic change.

Fighting for Trans and Sex Worker Rights

• DecrimNY Co-Founder: Gentili helped establish DecrimNY, a coalition advocating for the decriminalization of sex work in New York. This movement sought to dismantle harmful laws that disproportionately targeted trans women of color.

• Repeal of the “Walking While Trans” Ban: One of her most celebrated victories was lobbying for the repeal of New York’s discriminatory loitering law, which police often used to harass trans women.

• Healthcare Access: At Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, she co-founded a free clinic specifically for sex workers, ensuring that those often excluded from traditional healthcare systems had safe, affirming care.

Storytelling and Visibility

Gentili was also an actress, appearing in the groundbreaking series Pose, which highlighted the struggles and resilience of trans and queer communities. Her storytelling—whether on stage, in media, or through her consulting firm, Trans Equity Consulting—was a way to humanize issues often reduced to statistics and stigma.

Legacy and Community Impact

Her passing in February 2024 sparked an outpouring of grief and remembrance across New York City and beyond. Thousands gathered at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to honor her life, with mourners dressed in red to symbolize her fiery spirit. Organizations like GLAAD and grassroots activists alike hailed her as a “radical ancestor” whose work will continue to guide movements for justiceGLAAD+1.

Why Cecilia Gentili Matters

Gentili’s activism reminds us that policy change is inseparable from lived experience. She showed how advocacy rooted in compassion, visibility, and community care can dismantle oppressive systems. Her work lives on through the activists she mentored, the organizations she built, and the countless lives she touched.

Closing Reflection

Cecilia Gentili’s impact was not just in the laws she helped change but in the communities she nurtured. She leaves behind a legacy of resilience, joy, and radical love—a reminder that activism is both about fighting injustice and building spaces where marginalized people can thrive. In remembering Cecilia Gentili, we honor a visionary who turned her life into a blueprint for liberation.