OKLAHOMA 2STGNC+ GROUPS AND GLAAD RESPOND TO NEX BENEDICT FULL AUTOPSY REPORT

Tulsa, Oklahoma, March 27, 2024 – Today several Oklahoma-based LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) and 2STGNC+ (Two Spirit, transgender, gender nonconforming+) organizations and GLAAD, the world’s leading LGBTQ media advocacy organization, are responding to the release of a full autopsy report on Nex Benedict’s death from the unaccredited-since-2009 Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office.

Nex was a 16-year-old of Choctaw heritage who identified as transmasculine and nonbinary and used he/him or they/them pronouns according to loved ones. Nex died the day after being attacked three-on-one in a restroom at Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma last month. Oklahoma lawmakers passed a law in 2022 requiring that students only be allowed to use the bathrooms that align with their sex assigned at birth; passed a law banning transgender students from school sports in 2022; and passed a law that banned birth certificate markers different from “female” or “male.” In August 2023, Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order requiring state agencies to use limited definitions of female and male. And in November 2023, the state Department of Education passed a rule mandating that all school staff report any student they know or suspect to be queer or trans to that student’s parents and/or guardians, further limiting access to having safe conversations about being LGBTQ or 2STGNC+, even among friends, in a school environment.

Nex reported to police in the hospital following the attack that they had endured a year of bullying in the school, and that they did not believe the school would do anything to address the bullying. The officer discouraged Nex and their family from reporting the incident. Just last week, the Tulsa District Attorney announced no charges will be filed in Nex’s case.

Statement from Sarah Kate Ellis (she/her), GLAAD President and CEO:
“This report cannot be seen as a conclusion of the investigation into the death of a teenager who should still be here today. Oklahoma’s supposed leaders must still provide answers to the public about the state-sponsored bullying by legislation, the inadequate response to violence in a school bathroom, and all the failures to keep Nex safe that continue to endanger LGBTQ and 2STGNC+ people in Oklahoma. GLAAD continues to call for an independent investigation to resolve the systemic failures that led to Nex’s death. Our hearts remain with Nex’s family, with Oklahoma’s incredible 2STGNC+ and equality advocates, and all LGBTQ youth who deserve to grow up in peace and safety.”

Statement from Nicole McAfree (they/she), executive director of Freedom Oklahoma:
“As our community continues to grieve and remember Nex, it’s clearer than ever that everyone from Oklahoma’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters to Owasso High School staff members to the Owasso Police Department, Tulsa District Attorney, and unaccredited-since-2009 state medical examiner’s office failed to deliver justice for Nex Benedict and Nex’s loved ones. A harm doubled by the continued lack of respect for the tribal law enforcement who should be involved in a case that involves the death of an Indigenous person on reservation land. As we approach the end of the Oklahoma legislative session, lawmakers should take the opportunity to send a message of adamant opposition to anti-2SLGBTQ+ legislation and policies; and support for measures that enable more empathy, kindness, and compassion, not less. Nex should be alive, and the very least we can do in Nex’s memory is demonstrate our commitment to building a better world that makes it impossible for this heartbreaking tragedy to happen again.”

Statement from the Trans Advocacy Coalition of Oklahoma:
“We continue to grieve and mourn the loss of our community member Nex Benedict, a transmasculine and nonbinary youth of Choctaw descent, whose life was needlessly cut short. The fact remains that Nex was failed by systems, institutions, and people who should have provided love and support to show Nex that his life matters and he was not alone. A culture of bullying, harassment, and discrimination is pervasive in Oklahoma and has especially detrimental effects on members of vulnerable communities, including LGBTQ and Indigenous youth like Nex. The hostile environment and culture that Oklahomans face every day is sanctioned by institutions like the Oklahoma Department of Education that refuse to take tangible steps to make a change and show a commitment to the value of these students’ identities and lives. We can and must do better.” 

Statement from Kylan L. Durant, Oklahoma Pride Alliance President:
“Today’s news is the latest disappointing development in Nex Benedict’s tragic story. The best way to honor Nex’s memory now is by taking tangible steps to secure meaningful policies and platforms that make life better for all LGBTQ and 2STGNC+ youth. All Oklahomans deserve to live in a world that treats us with full dignity and respect, and where we can access spaces that allow us to live as our honest, authentic selves. We will never stop advocating for equality and justice in honor of Nex and too many others who left us too soon.”

Statement from Christopher Sederburg, Leader of the Transgender Action Committee at Rainbow Youth Project USA:
“Since Nex’s death, the crisis lines at the Rainbow Youth Project continue to increase in calls and outreach from young people who feel discouraged and hopeless. It’s incumbent upon all of us to secure safety and well-being for young people, especially those who are most at risk of being bullied and singled out. It’s hard enough to be a young person in the world today without worrying about doing something as simple as attending school safely. Nex’s death is a tremendous loss and we must do everything in our power to prevent similar tragedies from taking place in the future. Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters and the Oklahoma Department of Education must enact change and do right by all students.”

Additional background:

• Rainbow Youth Project reported an uptick in crisis calls from Oklahoma since Nex’s death:
  • 1,097 calls from Oklahoma in February.
  • 824 calls from Oklahoma in March so far.
  • Note that the average for the state is 357 per month.
• Oklahoma youth reaching out to Rainbow Youth Project reported experiencing anti-LGBTQ bullying and specifically called out Superintendent Walters:
  • 82% reported bullying.
  • 62% cited anti-LGBTQ rhetoric from Walters.

More than 350 organizations signed a letter one month ago calling for the removal of Ryan Walters as Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction following his long history of leadership failures and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. For a comprehensive look at Ryan Walters’ record on LGBTQ people and issues, visit https://glaad.org/gap/ryan-walters/.

Reporter Resources:

• Please seeReportingOnSuicide.org for critical recommendations for responsible media coverage.

Support:

• If you are in a life-threatening situation, please dial 911.
• If you are in crisis, please dial 988 or contact Rainbow Youth Project directly at +1 (317) 643-4888.
• For non-emergency support, you can connect the following organizations in Oklahoma:
  • CREOKS: https://creoks.org
  • PFLAG: https://pflag.org/
  • Freedom Oklahoma: https://www.freedomoklahoma.org/

For background on Nex’s life and story, visit GLAAD’s guidance for reporters and Freedom Oklahoma’s webpage and resources dedicated to Nex’s memory.

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About Freedom Oklahoma: Freedom Oklahoma is the state’s only dedicated 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy organization, and works each day to build a future where all 2SLGBTQ+ people have the safety to thrive. You can learn more about Freedom Oklahoma at https://www.freedomoklahoma.org/.

About Trans Advocacy Coalition of Oklahoma: Trans Advocacy Coalition of Oklahoma is an egalitarian, non-hierarchical, independent grassroots organization that aims to support and empower everyone in Oklahoma whose gender identity, expression, or experience differs from the societal norm.

About Oklahoma Pride Alliance: We believe that everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves to live in a world where they are accepted and celebrated for who they are. Our mission at Oklahoma Pride Alliance is to foster a sense of community and belonging for Oklahoma’s 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. We provide resources, programming, and events that aim to educate and empower the community. Together, we can create a more inclusive and accepting society.

About Rainbow Youth Project USA: At Rainbow Youth Project USA, we see the value in everyone. We want to be a catalyst for positive change, and despite being a new, spontaneous, and organic Organization, we pledge to be continuously driven by the same ideas we initially founded our Organization upon: Support. Empowerment. Progress.