New York House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez paid tribute to the late transgender activist, actress, and author, Cecilia Gentili, on the House floor just after her death last week.
During her speech in Gentili’s honor, AOC told of her accomplishments and drive to fight against anti-trans legislation. Gentili was an Argentinian American who immigrated to Florida at the age of 26. From there she launched a career in LGBTQ+ activism working for the LGBT Center’s NYC Anti-Violence Project, managing a trans health center with the Aphica Community Health Center, and becoming Director of Policy at the Gay Men’s Health Crisis.
“Cecilia was a beacon of hope for so many communities,” said Ocasio-Cortez. Gentili fought for the passage of the New York Gender Expression and Nondiscrimination Act, worked to decriminalize sex work in NYC, and helped to repeal the “walking while trans” law which law enforcement used to target and arrest trans women.
With all this experience under her belt and more, Gentili was a leader and champion of LGBTQ+ rights, and her work continues to impact communities for the better. In a clip of the speech posted to her Twitter, AOC vowed that the fight wasn’t over, and that she would “continue her fight for equality – especially for trans youth.”
The continuation of Gentili’s work is paramount as state governments continue to pass legislation to limit the freedoms of trans youth and adults. Gentili died at her home in Brooklyn on Feb. 6 at the age of 52. Her cause of death remains unknown.
