The National LGBTQ Task Force mourns the tragic loss of Nex Benedict (they/them), a 16-year-old who was brutally beaten by peers in the bathroom of an Oklahoma high school and died the day after.
Nex had a life full of many interests and hobbies, like many teens. They loved nature and enjoyed drawing and reading. They also liked watching The Walking Dead and played ARK and Minecraft, according to their obituary.
It’s heartbreaking to learn of another beautiful soul forcibly taken from us, especially one so young. No queer teen and their family should have to experience the pain and fear of violence. The harmful anti-LGBTQ rhetoric used by policymakers is directly fostering a culture of hate upon LGBTQ+ youth. Our community deserves to live long and fulfilling lives. Our children deserve to thrive and learn freely in our schools. We honor Nex with action by holding negligence and hatred accountable.
Cathy Renna, National LGBTQ Task Force Communications Director
If you are an LGBTQ+ person distressed by this news, know that you are not alone — our friends at Trans Lifeline and The Trevor Project can support you!
The Trevor Project
If you are thinking about harming yourself — get immediate crisis support. Connect to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S via text, chat, or phone. The Trevor Project is 100% confidential and 100% free.
Trans Lifeline
Trans Lifeline’s Hotline is a peer support phone service run by trans people for our trans and questioning peers. Call us if you need someone trans to talk to, even if you’re not in a crisis or if you’re not sure you’re trans.
Read More About Nex Benedict
Nonbinary Teen Nex Benedict Dies After Being Attacked By Peers in a School BathroomRead More About Nex Benedict
Grieving Nex Benedict: the Brutal Killing of 16 year Nonbinary Student in an Oklahoma High SchoolSupport the work of folks like the Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents, who independently track and write about the lives of trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people lost to hate since 2013.
The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice, and equality for LGBTQ people. We are building a future where everyone can be free to be their entire selves in every aspect of their lives. Today, despite all the progress we have made to end discrimination, millions of LGBTQ people face barriers in every aspect of their lives: in housing, employment, healthcare, retirement, and basic human rights. Those barriers must go.
CONTACT:
Cathy Renna, Communications Director, National LGBTQ Task Force, 917-757-6123, [email protected]