Nex Benedict, who identified as nonbinary, passed suddenly just one day after reporting that he had been involved in a fight with other students at Owasso High School in Oklahoma. Advocates are expressing their concerns about the potential for a hostile environment against the LGBTQ+ community within the school as an investigation into the cause of death continues to unfold.
Nex did not die as a consequence of trauma, according to the preliminary autopsy results, which were released by the Owasso police department. Before making a definitive determination regarding the cause of death, more testing, including toxicology data, are required. Before the tragic event, Nex had been the target of bullying at school, according to Sue Benedict, Nex’s mother. This information was disclosed by Sue Benedict. The argument that Nex had with three older females in a washroom at the school resulted in Nex receiving severe beatings, according to her description of the incident.
There are local LGBTQ+ organizations who are demanding responsibility from those who promote anti-transgender discourse. Some people believe that this rhetoric may have played a role in the assault that was committed against Nex and the other student. Within the larger context of rising anti-LGBTQ+ violence and expanding anti-transgender legislation across the United States, this tragedy has occurred at a time when all of these things are occurring.
During the course of the investigation, the administration at Owasso High School has underlined its commitment to preserving an atmosphere that is both safe and welcoming for all of the school’s students. It has been shown that the students who were involved in the dispute were only in the restroom for a period of less than two minutes, and that the conflict was promptly resolved by other students and a member of the faculty working there. Immediately following the altercation, both students proceeded to the office of the nurse and assistant principal on their own initiative. Once there, the administrators gathered statements from them and contacted their parents.
A number of activist organizations, including Freedom Oklahoma and the American Civil Liberties Union, have published comments in response to the incidents, expressing their alarm and seeking greater responsibility from both educational institutions and lawmakers.
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