The arrest of 37-year-old LGBTQ+ activist Kendall Stephens sparked social media discourse on Tuesday.
Stephens was arrested Monday on charges including rape, indecent assault, endangering the welfare of a child, corruption of a minor and related charges on Monday following a comprehensive investigation, a Philadelphia Police Department spokesperson told Newsweek. Stephens, who is transgender, is known as a prominent LGBTQ+ rights activist in Philadelphia.
Her arrest comes amid a cultural clash between conservatives and the LGBTQ+ community. Conservatives have long opposed the expansion of LGBTQ+ rights, but many in the community have warned of an uptick of homophobia and transphobia, as well as an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. They have also warned of the spread of “grooming” accusations against the community. Critics say “grooming” allegations baselessly associate the community with pedophilia, pointing to a lack of evidence showing LGBTQ+ people are no more likely to commit those acts than the general population.
The investigation into Stephens began after Philadelphia police’s Special Victims Unit received reports of previous sexual assaults on two minor children in September, the department said.
Hannah Beier/Getty Images
A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office confirmed to Newsweek that charges were referred after being filed by the Philadelphia Police Department.
Philadelphia news station WCAU reported that the victims were two boys age 9 and 14. The grandmother of one of the victims reported to police on September 25 that Stephens allegedly assaulted her grandson. Stephens is accused of abusing one boy at least three separate times since 2022, the news station reported.
The second boy told police he was also assaulted by Stephens and that she provided him gifts “out of nowhere,” WCAU reported.
She allegedly told one of the victims he would be locked up if he told anyone about the abuse, the station reported.
Newsweek reached out to Stephens via Instagram for comment. It is unclear if she has an attorney.
News of her arrest was shared on social media by several high-profile conservative influencers.
“NEW: 37 year old transgender Kendall Stephens has been arrested for allegedly r*ping two minors under the age of 13. This is why the death penalty exists. Stephens is a vocal LGBTQ+ activist and even worked with lawmakers to protect the LGBTQ+ community,” commentator Collin Rugg said on X, formerly Twitter.
NEW: 37 year old transgender Kendall Stephens has been arrested for allegedly r*ping two minors under the age of 13.
This is why the death penalty exists.
Stephens is a vocal LGBTQ+ activist and even worked with lawmakers to protect the LGBTQ+ community.
Stephens was charged… pic.twitter.com/k9iK5ZMx9l
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 19, 2023
Conservative commentator Oli London wrote on X: “Stephens has been considered a prominent activist for the LGBTQ+ community and previously urged lawmakers to change Pennsylvania’s hate crimes statute to include protections for LGBTQ+ people.”
Others, however, raised concerns about the response to her arrest.
“The Kendall Stephens discourse is so rough because it also just invites unnecessary transphobia. SHE should be made accountable for her actions for sure, but all the false equivalence of pedophilia to LGBTQ+ is 100% invalid,” wrote X user @sheededonem.
The Kendall Stephens discourse is so rough because it also just invites unnecessary transphobia. SHE should be made accountable for her actions for sure, but all the false equivalence of pedophilia to LGBTQ+ is 100% invalid.
— Rasheed A. (@sheededonem) December 19, 2023
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
