Kendall Stephens is recovering from injuries she sustained on Monday during a transphobic attack that took place right inside of her home, according to ABC6.

The 34-year-old told reporters that she was sitting at home with her husband and goddaughter when she heard a commotion outside. She went outside to find a large crowd of people arguing and throwing bottles. When she asked them to quiet down and threatened to call 911, a woman in the crowd rushed her and others joined in punching and kicking her.

Stephens said that eight people punched and kicked while telling her it was explicitly because she was trans, leaving her shaken and terrified for her safety. She suffered a broken nose, bruises to her face, lip and ribs after the attack.

"This lady comes balling at me like a bull and starts swinging at me, I tried to close my door, front door, and as I'm doing this, she kicks it open and starts attacking me all about the face. They called me a tranny, they said, 'You're a man, we're gonna get you.' And they were repeating this all throughout the beating, [they] said that I deserved it," she added.

She has surveillance cameras around her home that caught images of the attack but one of the people who rushed her knocked the camera down. She eventually was able to lock her door and flee to her basement as the crowd dispersed. But the woman who charged her threatened her as she made her way to the hospital.

"I am in fear of my life, they threatened to come back and finish the job. [They were the] last words they said to me. They already showed what kind of monsters they are, they're savages," Stephens said.

Initially, police decided it was a simple assault but detectives are now working on the case considering Stephens had to go to the hospital, ABC6 reported. Police have not arrested anyone but they are searching for leads.

“I don’t understand why this would happen to me. This is very frightening," Stephens told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Stephens created a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of her medical bills. She has already raised more than $30,000 but is still shaken from the attack.

On the GoFundMe page, Stephens wrote that she is a Black trans woman living below the poverty line and that the eight assailants hit her with wooden blocks, closed fists and their feet.

"I have serious damage to my face and right ribs, and needless to say I am very traumatized by the entire ordeal. Sadly, two children witnessed the ordeal are also traumatized by the ordeal," she wrote, adding that half of all the money raised will go to the William Way LGBTQ Center, a social community space for people to safely and confidently explore their identities in an affirming environment.

Earlier this year, Stephens spoke to a local newspaper from the Community College of Philadelphia about her work within the trans community and how it opened her up to abuse from people.

“It does put me in a position where I am very vulnerable to attack because of the boldness of my visibility, which is something a lot of people take for granted. If I am not visible, then I can’t be an inspiration to those people who are too frightened or simply unable to safely live an honest manifestation of their authenticity,” Stephens said.

Stephens has spent more than a decade as an advocate for trans rights and in June, the Philadelphia 76ers asked her to write something to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall riots. She spoke about her own struggles coming to terms with her trans identity and how her time with the William Way center was integral.

She also spoke about her relationship with Dominique Fells, who was tragically killed in Philadelphia earlier this year.

The two bonded over similar experiences and Stephens became a mentor to her as she found her way.

"Slowly but surely, Rem’mie started to believe that she had the ability to go to college and become this fashion designer that she always wanted to be. She also wanted to be a model, and expressed an interest in the opportunity of not only designing clothing but also wearing it herself and walking on runways in Paris at Fashion Week. Her skills were so amazing. Her artistry was breathtaking," Stephens wrote.

"We will not forget the names of our trans brothers and sisters who have fallen. I want to make sure that I honor her name every chance that I get," she added. "I want people to never forget her story. It’s not about her death. It’s about her life, about how she lived her life, how she was full of life. I want her life to be an example to others that it is very important to brave our obstacles, that we brave our adversities of life."

Dominique-Fells

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