Aimee Stephens, a transgender Michigan woman whose case questioning whether federal law protected transgender individuals from job discrimination became the first of its kind to be …
Aimee Stephens, a transgender Michigan woman whose case questioning whether federal law protected transgender individuals from job discrimination became the first of its kind to be heard by the U. S. Supreme Court, died Tuesday. She was 59.
Stephens, a former funeral home employee who said she was fired in 2013 for being transgender, was still awaiting what could be a landmark decision by the court, which is expected by the end of next month. The American Civil Liberties Union, which helped present the case to the court, announced Stephens’ death Tuesday afternoon.
“Aimee did not set out to be a hero and a trailblazer, but she is one, and our country owes her a debt of gratitude for her commitment to justice for all people and her dedication to our transgender community, » said Chase Strangio, a member of Stephens’ legal team and an ACLU official.
Freedom for All Americans, an advocacy group for LBGTQ individuals based in Washington, D. C., noted that Stephens’ was the first-ever transgender civil rights case to be heard by the court.
« In the face of an employer who fired her for being her true self, Aimee came forward to share her personal story in front of the court and millions of Americans, » said Kasey Suffredini, the group’s CEO and national campaign director. « In honor of Aimee Stephens’ life, it’s more important than ever that the court rule on the side of dignity, respect, and fairness for all LGBTQ Americans. »
Her death is not expected to impact the court’s deliberations on a decision, since the case is so far along and there are other cases in which the estate of a deceased party to a case has continued to pursue an outcome.
No cause for Stephen’s death was given, though she suffered kidney failure in 2014 and had been on dialysis three times a week when the Free Press spoke to her in 2019.
