Aimee Stephens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aimee Stephens
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| Born | December 7, 1960 |
| Died | May 12, 2020 (aged 59) Redford, Michigan, United States
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| Alma mater | Mars Hill University, Fayetteville Technical Community College |
Aimee Stephens (December 7, 1960 – May 12, 2020) was an American funeral director. She became famous for her important fight for civil rights for transgender people. Aimee worked as a funeral director in Detroit. She was fired from her job because she was transgender.
Because of her court case, the U.S. Supreme Court made a big decision in 2020. They ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees. This means employers cannot treat them unfairly because of their sex or gender identity.
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Early Life and Education
Aimee Stephens was born on December 7, 1960. Her hometown was Fayetteville, North Carolina. She went to Mars Hill University and finished in 1984. There, she earned a degree in religious education. Later, in 1988, she got a degree in mortuary science. This degree helped her become a funeral director.
Her Fight for Fairness
Aimee Stephens worked at R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home. This was in Garden City, Michigan. In 2013, she told her boss she would start wearing women's business clothes at work. Soon after, she was fired from her job.
Aimee believed she was treated unfairly. She started a legal case. She argued that her firing went against a law called Title VII. This law is part of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. It protects people from job discrimination based on sex.
The funeral home owner said he did not discriminate. He argued that he expected everyone to dress according to the gender they were assigned at birth. But the Supreme Court disagreed with the funeral home. They sided with Aimee Stephens. Justice Neil Gorsuch explained the court's decision. He said that even if Congress didn't think about LGBTQ+ people in 1964, the words of the law were clear. The law bans discrimination based on sex, and this includes transgender people.
Personal Life
Aimee Stephens was married to Donna Stephens for 20 years. They had one child together.
Death and Lasting Impact
Aimee Stephens passed away on May 12, 2020. She died from problems related to kidney failure.
In June 2020, Aimee was honored for her bravery. Her name was added to the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor. This special wall is inside the Stonewall National Monument in New York City. The Stonewall National Monument is important. It is the first U.S. national monument dedicated to LGBTQ rights and history. Aimee Stephens is remembered as a pioneer and hero for her fight for equality.
Images for kids
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Aimee Stephens outside the Supreme Court in 2019.
