A prominent Philadelphia LGBTQ activist was arrested Monday and charged with the rape of two minors younger than 13.
Kendall Stephens, a 37-year-old man who identifies as a woman, had a preliminary arraignment in a Philadelphia court on Monday and was charged with rape, involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with minors, corruption of minors, unlawful contact with minors, indecent assault against people less than 13 years of age, obscenity to minors and endangering the welfare of children, according to court documents, CBS Philadelphia reported.
Further details about Stephens’ alleged crimes have not yet been revealed as the investigation continues. Stephens’ bail was set for $250,000 and his next court hearing is scheduled for December 29, according to CBS Philadelphia.
In 2020, the LGBTQ activist was assaulted in his home in South Philadelphia by a person Stephens said targeted him because of his trans identity. Stephens’ attacker, Tymesha Wearing, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and conspiracy and was also convicted of hate crimes — which is considered a summary offense in Philadelphia — in February of this year. After Stephens was attacked, the activist called on Pennsylvania to make LGBTQ individuals a protected class in the state’s hate crime laws.
“There needs to be a call to action to our newly Democratically controlled State House of Representatives to push hate crime laws to include LGBTQ-identified individuals as a protected class in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Stephens said. “My trans siblings who met an untimely demise due to anti-trans violence are crying out from the grave and they deserve justice.”
Stephens was then praised by leftist Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner for advocating for “queer victims of violent crime.”
“Ms. Stephens continues to speak out loudly on behalf of other queer victims of violent crime – all while pursuing graduate studies,” Krasner said earlier this year.
Stephens also spoke at a campaign event for the state’s Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro during his 2022 campaign, where the trans activist endorsed Shapiro in his race against Republican Doug Mastriano.
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“Josh Shapiro is a man of faith, family, and fairness, and his track record – from protecting LGBTQ+ rights to defending reproductive rights – is one of fighting for the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians,” Stephens said in March of 2022.