Nex Benedict was a kind and caring 16-year-old non-binary student and a member of the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma. Nex enjoyed gaming and had a strong relationship with their cat, Zeus. Tragically, three classmates dimmed Nex’s light on February 7, 2024, and Nex succumbed to their injuries on February 8, 2024. We know that Nex’s light continues to shine, but now, more than ever, the fight to protect LGBTQ+ students like them must be a priority across the nation.
We stand in solidarity and love with the family, friends, and community of Nex.
“I urge each of you to embrace your authentic selves, celebrate others’ unique identities as well as your own, and continue advocating for a more inclusive and compassionate world. Our journey towards equality is far from over, but with the support of one another, we can achieve remarkable progress.”
~ Mel Oliveros Perez, Youth Leadership Summit Keynote Speaker and Youth Advisory Board Member
As demonstrated by the 2019 Chicago LGBTQ Community Needs Assessment (CNA) conducted by Morten Group and Chicago Community Trust, too often, LGBTQ+ youth are not in spaces such as school and/or community spaces, that are affirming or safe. This results in heightened mental health challenges and the inability to be their authentic selves. The current social and political climate and attacks on LGBTQ+ communities across the country, specifically transgender and gender expansive youth, are exacerbating mental health challenges and preventing LGBTQ+ youth from accessing affirming healthcare, school services, and other social and emotional support they need to survive, let alone thrive.
“Every student deserves safety when going to school. Sadly, it is the reality that LGBTQ+ students face higher rates of bullying, harassment, and now the painfully obvious one of losing their lives at school, simply for existing as their authentic self.”
~ Jay Diaz, Program Coordinator for Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
Students across the nation deserve caring and safe learning environments that are affirming of their identities. School systems across the nation have the responsibility to create and maintain such environments. This tragedy is the result of what happens when hate makes its way into policy. Oklahoma is one of the several states with laws requiring public school students to only use the bathroom that matches the gender they were assigned at birth. These harmful policies are specifically created to target trans and gender expansive people, and they have devastating, horrible, and in some cases lethal consequences.
Although no words will bring back Nex, we hope that their memory will help protect all future Nex Benedicts of the world.
The Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago is committed to continuing our work in the safe school’s movement through policy and advocacy, youth leadership and engagement, and professional development, through its Illinois Safe Schools Alliance program and through collaborations with local, state, and national stakeholders.
We invite you to trust your own positive intentions. An imperfect advocate is better than a silent bystander. Our youth deserve better, our youth deserve love, laughter, and most importantly: Life!
Resources:
- US Department of Health and Human Services created the following resource guide with resources related to crisis support, mental health resources, and preventing school-based bullying and violence https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/02/23/hhs-crisis-resources-for-oklahoma.html
- Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741
- Trevor Project – https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/ or text 678678
- TransLifeline has trans people offering peer support to trans and questioning people, Monday through Friday, 12pm-8pm Central, in English and Spanish at 877-565-8860
