On February 7, Nex Benedict was brutally assaulted in the bathroom by his fellow students at Owasso High School. He died the next day. Nex was 16-year-old 2STGNC+ (Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender non-conforming+) student of Choctaw descent. His death comes at a time when politicians from around the country–including Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction–have pushed forward a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills, a huge number of which most directly impact gender diverse students like Nex.
Campaign for Southern Equality is proud to join with more than 350 LGBTQ, civil rights groups, and public figures are calling on Oklahoma legislative leadership to immediately remove Ryan Walters as the state’s superintendent of public instruction; and to launch an investigation into the state’s Department of Education. For too long, the actions and policies of Walters and the DOE have led to a culture where rampant harassment of 2SLGBTQI+ (two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex+) students has been allowed to go unchecked. Read the full letter and list of signers who are demanding justice for Nex Benedict by demanding action in Nex’s memory.
We encourage folks to look to those working on the ground in Oklahoma as they continue to fight against the anti-trans leadership and policies that ultimately resulted in this tragic loss of life. Please refer to the letter linked above for a list of local Oklahoma organizations doing this work.
