Who is Kendall Stephens? The Transgender Activist Who Went From Victim to Accused Rapist
Kendall Stephens is a transgender woman and a prominent LGBTQ rights activist from Philadelphia. She is also a Temple University student and a community advocate. She has been vocal about her experiences as a Black transgender woman and a survivor of a transphobic attack in 2020. However, she is now facing serious charges of raping two minors, among other crimes.
A Shocking Arrest of Kendall Stephens
On Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, police arrested Kendall Stephens, 37, on several charges of rape, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, indecent assault, and endangering the welfare of children. She is accused of sexually abusing two boys, aged 14 and 15, who were under her care at her Point Breeze home. She allegedly gave them alcohol and drugs, and forced them to perform sexual acts on her and on each other. She also allegedly recorded some of the abuse on her phone.
The police investigation began after one of the boys told his mother about the abuse, and she reported it to the authorities. The boy said that he met Stephens through a friend and that she offered him a place to stay when he was having problems at home. He said that Kendall told him that she was a transgender woman, and that he had to do whatever she wanted if he wanted to stay with her. He said that Stephens sexually assaulted him multiple times, and also made him have sex with another boy who was staying with her.
BREAKING: Prominent LGBTQ+ advocate Kendall Stephens arrested in Philly after rapíng 2 boys under the age of 13
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 19, 2023
Stephens is a male who now identifies as a woman and has worked together with DA Larry Krasner and others to craft LGBTQ+ policies.
The charges against Stephens… pic.twitter.com/hn0pjbm4Gm
The other boy confirmed the allegations and said that Stephens also threatened to kill them if they ever told anyone about the abuse. He said that Kendall gave them marijuana, ecstasy, and alcohol and that she had a gun in her house. He said that Stephens also showed them videos of her having sex with other men and boys and that she claimed to have connections with powerful people in the LGBTQ community.
The police searched Kendall Stephens’ home and seized her phone, laptop, and other electronic devices. They also found a loaded handgun, drugs, and drug paraphernalia. They are currently examining the evidence for more clues and possible victims.
She was arraigned on Tuesday, Dec. 19, and was denied bail. She is being held at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. She is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 4, 2024, for a preliminary hearing.
A Controversial Figure
Stephens’ arrest has shocked and divided the LGBTQ community in Philadelphia and beyond. Some of her supporters have expressed disbelief and sympathy, while others have condemned and distanced themselves from her. Some have also raised questions about the credibility and motives of the accusers, and the possible bias and prejudice of the police and the media.
Kendall Stephens is no stranger to controversy and conflict. She has been outspoken and outspoken about her identity and her rights as a transgender woman of color. She has also been involved in several incidents and lawsuits involving discrimination, harassment, and violence.
In August 2020, Kendall was brutally attacked by a group of people outside her home, after she confronted them for making noise and disturbing her godchildren, who were living with her. She was beaten, kicked, and called derogatory names, while her godchildren watched in horror. She suffered a broken nose, a head contusion, facial swelling, a busted lip, bruised ribs, and other injuries.
Stephens reported the attack to the police, but she said that they were belligerent and unsympathetic. She said that they refused to arrest one of the attackers, who she identified, and that they treated the incident as a simple assault. She said that they also harassed and trivialized her at the police station, and made jokes while she bled on the floor.
Kendall shared her story with the media and the Human Rights Campaign, a nonprofit organization that advocates for LGBTQ equality. She said that her experience was typical for transgender victims, who often face hostility and indifference from the authorities and society. She said that she wanted justice and accountability for herself and for all transgender people who suffer from hate crimes.
In September 2020, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office charged one of the attackers, Tymesha Wearing, with aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation, and related charges. Wearing pleaded guilty in February 2023, and was sentenced to six months of house arrest and 200 hours of community service. The District Attorney, Larry Krasner, also called for stronger LGBTQ hate crimes protections in the Pennsylvania Criminal Code.
In March 2021, Stephens spoke out against the uptick in hate crimes against transgender people, especially transgender women of color, who are disproportionately targeted and killed. She said that she was still traumatized by the attack and that she feared for her safety and her life. She said that she wanted more awareness and support for the transgender community and more action and prevention from the government and law enforcement.
A Complex Case
Stephens’ case is complex and sensitive, as it involves multiple and intersecting issues of gender, sexuality, race, age, power, and violence. It also challenges the stereotypes and assumptions that people may have about transgender people, especially transgender women, and their roles and relationships in society.
Her case also raises questions about the credibility and accountability of the sources and the information that is available to the public. How reliable and accurate are the allegations and the evidence against Stephens? How fair and impartial are the police and the media in handling and reporting the case? How informed and respectful are the people in discussing and judging the case?
Kendall’s case also demands empathy and compassion for the victims and the survivors of sexual abuse and violence, regardless of their gender, sexuality, race, age, or background. It also calls for justice and accountability for the perpetrators and the enablers of sexual abuse and violence, regardless of their gender, sexuality, race, age, or status.
Kendall Stephens’ case is not yet over, and there may be more developments and revelations in the future. It is important to keep an open mind and a critical eye and to seek and verify the facts and the truth. It is also important to respect and protect the rights and dignity of all the parties involved and to refrain from spreading rumors and misinformation. It is also important to remember and support the LGBTQ community, and to stand against hate and violence in all forms.
