PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Kendall Stephens struggled to breathe after her ribs were bruised and her nose was broken in two places.
In August, a violent group rushed into her Point Breeze home and beat her. Her two godchildren witnessed the attack, which was also captured on video.
Unfortunately, this was not the first time Stephens experienced such a vicious act of violence.
“Not all. Not even the 10th time,” she said. “This is routine for many trans people, especially trans women of color.”
Stephens’ attack came just months after her friend Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells, a transgender Black woman, was killed, dismembered and thrown in the Schuylkill River.
“She had a long life ahead of her — that was snuffed out by hate,” she said. “That inspired me to help raise $25,000 to find the suspect that attacked her, and they did find him.”
The idea that someone, driven by hate, could kill her friend and people could beat her in front of children provoked a new level of resilience in Stephens. The Temple University student decided to speak out against the attacks on trans women of color.
“Being able to raise that money, it felt so powerful that I was able to do that,” she said. “I am not a rich person at all.”
Stephens reported her own attack to the police. They identified one of her attackers, who has since been charged with ethnic intimidation. Now an advocate, Stephens facilitates a trans support group at William Way LGBT Community Center and will also sit on the new LGBTQ+ advisory board at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.
However, Stephens is aware her heightened visibility could get bring more attacks, or worse.
“I’m not going to die on my back,” she said. “If I do die, I’m going to die firmly planted on the ground, fighting the good fight.”
That fight is about respect, not just for herself but for all trans people. That’s why Wednesday, International Transgender Day of Visibility, is so important.
“You are free when you are able to walk in an honest manifestation of your truth every day, knowing the consequences,” she said. “We honor those who are still here for being so brave and so bold because when you are visible, you know the danger. You know that you could become a statistic.”