It is with crushing sorrow that we share the news of the death of our Long COVID Justice advisory team member and beloved comrade Cecilia Gentili.
As a LGBTQ community leader calling for more attention to the impact of Long COVID in our communities, Cecilia hosted our November webinar on Long COVID in the trans community, produced by her group Trans Equity.
Among so many other things, Cecilia founded a free health clinic for sex workers, served as a plaintiff to win federal trans healthcare rights during the Trump administration, was a beyond impassioned and effective advocate for trans people, sex workers and immigrants, and had a returning role on Pose. She lived in the US for a decade as an undocumented sex worker and drug user, later providing gender affirming care services at APICHA and serving as Director of Policy for GMHC before founding Trans Equity Consulting.
She is also author of the lauded memoir Faltas: Letters to Everyone in My Hometown Who Isn’t My Rapist, which received the ALA Stonewall Book Award, among other accolades, and creator of the one-woman shows Red Ink.
The first of many memorials was held last night in NYC – please stay tuned to learn about more community gatherings to honor her life and legacy.
We are with you in your grief, whether you knew Cecilia personally or were a fan and follower of her work. We hope you are finding comfort where you can, and holding your loved ones close.
May her memory be a revolution.