With SCOTUS Ruling at Hand, Trans Plaintiff Aimee Stephens Struggling

LGBTQ rights plaintiff Aimee Stephens, fired from her job as a funeral director after coming out as transgender, is no longer able to travel for life-saving dialysis treatment and is currently receiving hospice care.

Stephens's health is failing just as the Supreme Court's ruling on her employment discrimination case is imminent. Stephens came out as trans to her employers at a funeral home in suburban Detroit in 2013; two weeks later she was terminated.

"When I was fired, it made me mad, to say the least ... that's when it finally hit home that we weren't treated the same as everybody else and it's time that somebody stood up and said enough is enough," Stephens said at a press conference held shortly before she and her lawyers made their case at the nation's highest court in October.

Stephens's case could affect all Americans who face discrimination at work based on their gender identity or presentation.

Stephens, who The Advocate chose as one of their 2020 "Champions of Pride" in their forthcoming issue, is now being assisted at home by her daughter and Aimee's wife, Donna Stephens. Aimee's family is struggling with paying for her medical costs, as well as trying to prepare for the worst.

Friends of Donna's set up a GoFundMe seeking financial assistance for the family.

"With Aimee being sick and needing so much care, we wanted to help she and Donna, by easing the financial burden of household expenses, Aimee's end-of-life care, and funeral services, when the time comes," the fundraising page reads, which is only seeking a modest $5,000. As of Friday afternoon, the fund has raised approximately $3,500.