- Kendall Stephens, 37, was arrested on Monday accused of raping two minors
- The trans LGBTQ+ activist became a well-known campaigner after becoming the victim of a hate crime in 2020
- The charges relate to children under the age of 13, police said
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A prominent transgender activist in Philadelphia has been accused of raping two children.
Kendall Stephens, 37, was arrested on Monday and charged with a slew of sex crimes against the minors.
Exact details of the allegations have not been released, but she appeared at a preliminary arraignment in Philadelphia Municipal Court the same day.
Sources told ABC7 the alleged offences were committed against two boys under the age of 13.
Police said its Special Victims Unit received reports of previous sexual assaults on two minor children in September 2023. Stephens was arrested following a ‘comprehensive investigation’.
Trans rights activist Kendall Stephens, 37, from Philadelphia is accused of raping two children
Stephens is harged 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
The LGBTQ+ activist rose to prominence after becoming a victim of a brutal hate crime in her Philadelphia home
She is 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.
The LGBTQ+ campaigner became known in her local community after she turned to activism following a vicious hate crime against her.
In 2020 Stephens, a black, transgender woman, was subjected to a horrific attack by a group inside her south Philadelphia home.
Tymesha Wearing was convicted of aggravated assault and hate crimes as a result of her role in the home invasion.
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She was sentenced to 23 months of house arrest in February, along with 120 hours of community service.
She was also ordered to pen a letter of apology to Stephens and undertake anger management classes.
Stephens used the experience as a catalyst to becoming an activist, pushing lawmakers for greater protection for LGBTQ+ people.
She said in a statement to CBS at the time: ‘Although Philadelphia County recognizes what happened to me as a hate crime, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s hate crime statute doesn’t recognize me as a person worthy of protection because I’m transgender, I am an unworthy minority in the eyes of the law, and that needs to change, or the cycle of hate will continue.’
In 2021, Stephens stood alongside District Attorney Larry Krasner to help launch the LGBTQ+ Advisory Board.
According to ABC6, the board was created in order to be a source of information for victims and survivors of crime within the LGBTQ+ community.
Police said they received reports of historic abuse of two children in September 2023. Stephens was arrested on Monday
Stephens’ bail was set for $250,000 and she is due back in court on December 29
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General filed the charges against her, as is often the case where there might be a conflict with a local DA.
Stephens describes herself as a ‘human rights advocate and activist’ on her Instagram page.
Her bail has been set for $250,000 and her next court hearing is scheduled for December 29.
DailyMail.com has contacted Stephens for comment.
