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Meet the Logo30: Cecilia Gentili

"Pride started with an idea of rebellion, with a riot, with a group of people saying, 'We can't take this anymore.'"

Every day during the month of June, we will be spotlighting our 2020 Logo30. This powerful series profiles ordinary and extraordinary people who show pride in unique and provocative ways. Visit the Logo30 homepage to view current and past honorees.

For transgender advocate Cecilia Gentili, activism and showing her Pride go hand in hand.

The veteran activist, whose credits include organizing with GMHC and Decrim NY, came to America from Argentina to escape persecution as a trans woman. She lived undocumented in the U.S. for a decade until finally being granted asylum, an arduous experience that shaped her lifelong commitment to social justice.

Gentili's work lies at the intersection of sex workers' rights, incarceration issues, and equality for transgender women. In 2019, she founded Transgender Equity Consulting, a consultation group that helps organizations better serve queer and trans people.

Erik McGregor/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

FOLEY SQUARE, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - 2019/02/25: Cecilia Gentili, member of Decrim NYs Steering Committee - LGBTQ+, immigrant rights, harm reduction and criminal justice reform groups, led by people who trade sex, launched 20+ organization coalition, Decrim NY on February 25, 2019, to decriminalize and decarcerate the sex trades in New York city and state. Senate Labor Committee Chair Ramos and Womens Health Committee Chair Salazar and Assembly Health Committee Chair Gottfried announced intention to introduce comprehensive decriminalization bill this session. (Photo by Erik McGregor/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Speaking to Logo and NewNowNext, Gentili shared a message of hope and resilience to the LGBTQ community.

"I hope you can all find a way to celebrate Pride Month," she said. "It's been hard. It's been really hard for me to find joy during this month that is supposed to elevate us and empower us."

"It is hard to find Pride when we keep finding the bodies of Black trans women murdered senselessly," she continued. "It is hard to be happy and cheerful when the current administration took away protections people like me [depend on] in order to receive health care that is not discriminatory. ... At the same time, I am reminded that Pride started with an idea of rebellion, with a riot, with a group of people saying, 'We can't take this anymore. We won't take this anymore.' We must rebel against injustice."

Watch video interviews with our 2020 Logo30 honorees, including Gentili, below.

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