Aimee Stephens, activist, the first major Transgender Rights brought the case to the Supreme Court of the United States, dies at 59

Aimee Stephens, managing trans activist Supreme Court in the middle of the first transgender rights case before the Supreme Court of the United States, died of health complications at the age of 59 years, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Stephens, said on Tuesday, “Aimee was determined not to be a hero and a pioneer, but she is one, and our country has a debt of gratitude for their commitment to justice for all people and their commitment for our transgender community, “Chase Strangio, a member of the legal department Stephens, said in a statement. “As a member of its Legal Department, I am deeply sorry for this loss. As a transgender person and a lawyer, I am filled with sadness and anger is that we have an old man lost too soon. As we and millions bring his work for justice forward, they can rest in force and continues to lead us on this path. ” In 2013, Stephens was based on Detroit RG funeral announced their passage in a letter to his employer and colleagues and GR Harris Funeral homes, and said that it would begin dressing, befits that their identity kind. Stephens had worked for nearly seven years as a funeral director at the company; before coming out as trans, had done well at work and was recently promoted to a post I wrote in 2018 for the ACLU in Stephens was fired two weeks after delivering his letter. In court records, he told his employer that he shot Stephens, because they “wanted to dress like a woman” and “does not represent the most., Supported as a man” funeral home that Stephens decision to wear women’s clothes society -. a jacket and skirt, rather than the uniform Men suit and tie – violated its dress code The Washington Post reported that the funeral home offered Stephens TFR. if she agreed not to sue, but she refused. “Money at this point it does not matter it was,” Stephens told the Post. “It ‘was the principle. No one should be fired on this.” in 2014, he sued the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v their former employer for sex discrimination. the suit, EEOC. Harris family funeral homes, has worked its way through the court system of the first major case of transgender rights a full hearing before the Supreme Court in the fall for last year. The case asks the Court to declare whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – discrim occupation inaction on grounds of sex, race, color, religion or national origin-based prohibits – also extends to transgender people. Trump has put his administration a short in August, the Court asked to decide that Title VII protects only against “biological sex”, which allows a previous employer would set fires employee for its transgender. Stephens did not live to see the court’s ruling, which is expected this summer. “Especially for a positive result is waiting for this case is what really keeps me going day by day,” said Stephens TIME in 2018. “It’s not just for me but also for all other trans people worldwide , not only trans people, but also for all LGBTQ + people. “Stephens grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in a conservative southern Baptist family with no knowledge of transgender, said the voice with the ACLU in an interview in 2019, Stephens said that at the age of five, he knew that they “do not like every other child on the way.” Stephens began in funeral work while studying to be a Baptist preacher, according to the ACLU, and continued in the field for nearly three decades. In 2009, Stephens came to her woman to woman as a transgender woman and began to transition, with the support of Women, according to the Post. had in recent years, health Stephens’ worsened, and by 2018 he suffered from breathing problems, kidney failure, dialysis need three times a week. GoFundMe created in a May 7, 2020, where his family has announced that Stephens had been diagnosed with stage four renal failure and had entered hospice. “Dismissal by the employer determines an immediate financial burden, what to take Donna husband of more jobs,” he said in GoFundMe page. (Stephens Found fought the occupation after his shot, but was set as the technical autopsy later.) “Friends and family came when they can, but lost income years have taken a toll on their finances.” To ACLU, and Stephens’ without health insurance left his job to lose if his kidneys began to fail. The GoFundMe ask for help to donate to the cost of end of life care and funeral expenses. “Thank you so much for your kindness, generosity and keep my best friend and soul mate in your thoughts and prayers,” Donna Stephens said in a statement the ACLU released Tuesday. “The outpouring of love and support our strength and inspiration is now.” In an interview in 2018, he said the Stephens time they hoped would bring his case examined by the Supreme Court, as well as others relating to LGBT rights “with which it is thought in mind that we are all human beings.” “Before or someone comes after which it must be ready to fight for this cause and do everything possible to achieve our objectives, “said Stephens. “And I have been told that to be a person, if I could.”
Photo copyright Eamon Queeney-The New York Times / Redux