Cecilia Gentili, the ‘Pose’ actress and LGBTQ activist, has passed away at the age of 52

Paresh Jadhav

11 months ago

Cecilia Gentili, an activist and actress on FX series Pose who was 52, passed away today at her residence. Co-stars such as Dominique Jackson, Angelica Ross and Hailie Sahar paid their respects on social media platforms such as Twitter.

She not only appeared on the show, but she also founded Trans Equity Consulting and worked with major organizations like GMHC and other major sex workers’ health providers such as Callen-Lorde Health Center to establish healthcare for sex workers.

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Gentili Born in Argentina

Gentili was active in numerous protests and rallies for LGBTQ rights, particularly sex worker rights, during her life. She co-founded nonprofits like GMHC and APICHA as well as helping establish Callen-Lorde Community Health Center as a clinic specifically for sex workers. Furthermore, Gentili co-founded DecrimNY which worked to decriminalize sex work in New York state.

Miss Orlando starred in Pose and was well known for her activism and community involvement, appearing regularly as guest speakers at events and authoring her memoir Faltas: Letters to Everyone Who Isn’t a Rapist. Additionally, Red Ink would return to the stage later this year.

Many Pose cast members and friends paid tribute to Gentili on social media, with many writing “REST IN POWER.” Gentili left behind an indelible legacy that will continue to impact generations to come; GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis spoke highly of her dedication and said that she was an inspiration to all.

Starred in Pose

Transgender activist Margaret Wixted was well known for her advocacy of sex worker rights and one-woman show, as well as leading organizations that worked to empower marginalized communities, such as GMHC (formerly Gay Men’s Health Crisis), APICHA, and Trans Equity Consulting.

Dominique Jackson of Pose paid her an emotional tribute on Instagram: “AN ACTIVIST, AN ICON, A TRAILBLAZER, A MOTHER, WIFE AND ACTOR AND COMEDIAN! A PHENOMENAL HUMAN BEING!” she wrote.

Gentili was an asylum seeker from Galvez, Santa Fe Argentina who arrived in the US as an asylum seeker to advocate for sex workers and other marginalized communities. She established her namesake COIN clinic which collaborated with Callen-Lorde Community Health Center; led numerous initiatives promoting empowerment among trans women of color as well as sex workers; was an author/poet; formed legal services group dedicated to serving sex workers as legal services provider.

Activist

Cecilia Gentili was an esteemed LGBTQ rights activist and author, best known for her role on the hit trans-led TV series Pose. Following news of her passing via her Instagram Stories post, tributes poured in from co-star Dominique Jackson of Pose fame as well as nightlife legend Amanda Lepore and GLAAD.

Gentili was an unwavering champion for transgender rights and for their community as a whole. She founded Trans Equity Consulting and held leadership roles at LGBT HIV/AIDS care nonprofits GMHC and APICHA; additionally she co-founded DecrimNY as well as providing free health clinic services for sex workers at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center.

Gentili was best known for her portrayal of Miss Orlando on Pose, a New York City woman offering affordable cosmetic surgery. Gentili used this character as a symbol of her real-life advocacy for LGBTQ equality and workers rights; many prominent members in New York City queer community such as Isis King, Hailie Sahar, and Angelica Ross paid their respects on social media after Gentili passed.

Author

Gentili was an outspoken former sex worker who came out publicly in 1984 and lived undocumented for 10 years until receiving asylum in 2012. Since then, she has dedicated herself to activism and advocacy work aimed at increasing HIV/AIDS awareness as well as creating fair treatment for sex workers and transgender people.

She founded DecrimNY, an organization working toward decriminalization and stigmatization of sex work, as well as established a free clinic for sex workers at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. Additionally, she wrote the play Faltas: Letters to Everyone Who Isn’t a Rapist in my Hometown as well as performed her one-woman show Red Ink at New York’s Rattlestick Theater.

Pose co-stars Dominique Jackson and Isis King and Hailie Sahar all took to social media following Gentili’s passing to pay their respects and remember her life: an “ACTIVIST, ICON, TRAILBLAZER, A MOTHER, WIFE, COMEDIAN AND ACTOR IN THE FIELD! A PHENOMENAL HUMAN BEING!” Jackson wrote on social media.