More than 1400 mourners gathered in St. Patrick’s Cathedral bearing an abundance of red roses while dressed in high-fashion funeral attire to commemorate the life of Cecilia Gentili, a storied matriarch of the trans community.
Eulogies during the service, which took place on 15 February, proclaimed her “Saint Cecilia” for her dedicated advocacy in trans healthcare, immigrant rights, HIV prevention and the rights of sex workers.
Trans activist Ceyenne Doroshow said in her eulogy to Gentili: “Y’all may have heard the story that Jesus ministered to all.
Cecilia ministered to all.” “We lost our saint. We lost somebody that we could call no matter what, no matter what time. But this lady worked so hard to make sure girls like me, girls like you, boys like you, are safe, are grounded, are rooted, got healthcare, that sex workers are free.” Gentili is believed to be the first trans person to ever have a funeral service held in their honour at St.