The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York has come under fire after condemning the funeral of transgender activist Cecilia Gentili, which was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral last week. More than 1,000 people attended the service to honor Gentili, who was a beloved figure in New York's trans community and a fierce advocate for sex workers and people with HIV/AIDS. Despite growing up attending Catholic services in Argentina, Gentili was an atheist. The funeral was described as “iconic” and “historic” by friends and family, with mourners dressed in feathery red dresses and lace veils, praying for the protection of trans individuals. The senior leader at St. Patrick's Cathedral expressed outrage over the service, claiming the church was deceived into hosting it. The Archdiocese of New York condemned the funeral as sacrilegious and deceptive, leading to a mass of reparation being offered to atone for the event. However, funeral organizers defended their decision to hold the service at the cathedral, citing Gentili's legacy of advocating for marginalized communities. Gentili's family also criticized the archdiocese's response, calling the funeral a historic defiance of the Church's hypocrisy. Despite the backlash from some Catholics, others, like Michael Horlan from Ireland, supported the service, stating that Jesus welcomed everyone without judgment. The funeral of Cecilia Gentili has sparked a debate within the Catholic community about inclusion and acceptance of transgender individuals.