Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reflect on the life and legacy of beloved Queens community leader, Cecilia Gentili. Cecilia was a beacon of hope for so many communities in my district. She was only 26 when she fled Argentina to seek asylum in the United States. She arrived in New York City in 2003 and lived her truth as a trans woman. She was finally granted asylum in 2012, as well, and she devoted much of her life to uplifting our trans and undocumented community in Queens. Most recently, Cecilia shined in her artistic pursuits as an author, playwright, and actress. Cecilia was a leader in the fight for HIV/AIDS healthcare and founded a free healthcare clinic in New York City. At the State level, she championed the Gender Expression Non- Discrimination Act, GENDA, which was signed into law in 2019. Today, Cecilia would have also wanted to continue to uplift her advocacy against dangerous proposals like KOSA that would allow States to cut off access to lifesaving online resources for isolated trans youth, like healthcare information. Our community will continue to remember Cecilia as an unwavering leader in the fight for equality. ____________________”