Transgender activist whose funeral sparked 'scandal' at St Patrick's Cathedral died from 'tragic poisoning'

A transgender activist whose funeral sparked "scandal" at St Patrick's Cathedral in New York died from "tragic poisoning".

Cecelia Gentili, a leading advocated for transgender people as well as sex workers and people with HIV , died on February 6 at the age of 52. Gentili was laid to rest in Manhattan in a service attended by over 1,000 attendees.

This week, in federal court in Brooklyn , two men plead guilty to distributing heroin and fentanyl that caused the death of the beloved activist who New York City Governor Kathy Hochul called a "champion" and a "trans icon" .

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Michael Kuilan, 44, from Brooklyn, pled guilt to distributing and possessing heroin and fentanyl. On July 30, Kuilan’s co-defendant, Antonio Venti, 52, from West Babylon, pled guilty to the same drug offense.

Kulian and Venti were indicted together in March.

“The perpetrators of the tragic poisoning of Cecilia Gentili, a prominent leader of the New York transgender community , have now both admitted their guilt in selling the lethal drugs that have caused this heartbreaking death,” stated US Attorney Peace.

"These drugs, heroin and fentanyl, have caused so much pain throughout our community . I hope this case will bring a sense of closure to Gentili’s family and serve as a warning that this Office will be relentless in holding fentanyl dealers accountable.”

On February 6, 2024, Gentili was found dead in her bedroom in Brooklyn, according to court documents and facts presented at the guilty plea proceeding.

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Gentili died due to the combined effect of controlled substances , including fentanyl, xylazine, cocaine, and heroin.

Text messages, cell site data, and other evidence revealed that Venti sold the fentanyl and heroin mixture to Gentili one day before her death , and that Kuilan supplied Venti with those lethal narcotics.

As part of their plea agreements, Kuilan and Venti agreed that they caused Gentili’s death. Kuilan's apartment in Brooklyn was searched where hundreds of baggies of fentanyl and a handgun and ammunition were discovered.

“While these guilty pleas can't undo the tragic loss Gentili, it sends a message that we will do everything we can to make sure those responsible for drug related deaths face the consequences for their actions , and the families of those who lost their lives receive justice," said Frank Tarentino, DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge.

Gentili's funeral was the first held for a transgender person at St Patrick's Cathedral and was denounced by The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York who said it was unaware of Gentili's identity when it agreed to host the service.

In a written statement, the Rev. Enrique Salvo, pastor of St Patrick’s , thanked those who “share our outrage over the scandalous behavior” at the funeral.

He said: "The Cathedral only knew that family and friends were requesting a funeral Mass for a Catholic , and had no idea our welcome and prayer would be degraded in such a sacrilegious and deceptive way ."

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Gentili’s family insisted in a statement that the church hadn't been deceived and said the gathering “brought precious life and radical joy to the Cathedral in historic defiance of the Church’s hypocrisy and anti-trans hatred.”

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