Trans Activist Kendall Stephens' Arrest Sparks MAGA Uproar
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.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.
