Cecilia Gentili

Cecilia Gentili (1972-2024) was a legendary organizer, author, advocate, performer, and community icon.

Cecilia’s early community work included building transgender health services at Apicha Community Health Center, where her leadership grew the program from 27 to over 500 patients. She later served as Managing Director of Policy at GMHC, where she helped pass GENDA (Gender Non-Discrimination Act) and co-founded Decrim NY, fighting to decriminalize and destigmatize the sex trade.

In 2018, Cecilia launched Trans Equity Consulting, partnering with organizations like the CDC, AIDS Institute, and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute. Through this work, she founded C.O.I.N. with Callen-Lorde, a free clinic for sex workers, and created TRANSMISSION, the first all-trans music festival at Marsha P. Johnson State Park.

Beyond advocacy, Cecilia was a celebrated artist. She starred in Pose, released the award-winning memoir Faltas, and performed her solo show Red Ink off-Broadway.

Whether it was on the stage, screen, or written page, Cecilia passionately and consistently advocated for the various communities that shaped her practice and did so with a signature blend of humor and honesty that spoke to life’s most joyous and painful moments.