Nex Benedict, a 16-year old Oklahoma student, died after being attacked in a school bathroom on February 8. According to a friend of Benedict’s mom, three older students beat them in the bathroom, and they were unable to walk to the nurses office following the attack.
One thing that makes this situation even more angering is that reportedly the school office did not call an ambulance, and therefore Benedict’s grandmother had to take them to the hospital following the altercation.
This situation is super unfortunate and hard to comprehend. Why is it that the school didn’t keep Benedict safe? Why did the school do nothing about this situation? All of these questions are coming up as the death of Benedict has shaken the community.
Schools for many years now have claimed to have “zero tolerance” bullying policies. However, it is becoming very clear that this policy is selective when it comes to who it protects. Allegedly, a girl had repeatedly beated Benedict on the head across the floor, causing medical professionals to suspect hat they may have died from head trauma.
Following Benedict’s death, many outlets have shamefully misgendered them and have gone as far as using their dead name, Just showing how much hatred and confusion trans people still face.
Sue Benedict, the grandmother of Benedict, described that a bill passed by the state in 2022 required public school students to use the bathroom that matched the sex on their birth certificate. This forced Benedict to use the women’s bathroom.
Bills such as these are super hard to understand and very invasive to human rights. They are hard to understand because no well-rounded individual looks around and wonders if the person in the bathroom with them is trans or nonbinary. It is also invasive to human rights because it further restricts rights on a person being authentically themselves.
Disgustingly, the state superintendent has been supportive of anti- LGBTQ+ laws that have been enacted. Regardless of beliefs, humans are humans, and we all must be treated fairly.
This is a super heartbreaking situation that has us all deeply devastated. And unfortunately, so many situations similar to this happen regularly, but they are never put on the media.
Our hearts go out to Benedicts family and friends and may justice be served.
Photo courtesy of social media
