From: Jennifer Fabrizius <jenf@ksu.edu>Subject: Nex Benedict Vigil – March 4, Manhattan City Park
Join us in honoring the life and grieving the death of Nex Benedict. And together we can work to protect queer youth everywhere. Candles with flame guards will be provided. Signs and flags are welcome.
Monday 3/4, 5:30-7:00 pm in Manhattan City Park Poyntz shelter.
This is an opportunity to come together, in community, and support each other, our siblings, our youth, and all those mourning this loss.
Brief Background: Nex Benedict was a 16-year-old sophomore nonbinary student whose mother is a tribal citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and who was living in Oklahoma when he/they died Feb 8th after being beaten by three older students in the women’s bathroom at Owasso High School on February 7th. Oklahoma has legislation requiring bathroom use based on the sex on their birth certificate. Nex was forced to use the “female bathroom” because of the laws in Oklahoma. While the investigation into Nex’s death is ongoing, Nex’s grandmother reported months of bullying at school prior to Nex being attacked. Additionally, a teacher at Nex’s school who spoke out in support of 2SLGBTQ+ students experienced such intense backlash that the teacher ultimately resigned from the school. Oklahoma law makers have been vocal about wanting to drive queer folks out of their state and this eliminationist tenor allowed for the hiring of Chaya Raichik, of LibsOfTikTok fame, whose account has been linked to bomb threats against schools and substantial increases in harassment against queer students.
What we know is this did not happen in a vacuum. These kinds of policies have dire results.
For more information see news coverage from:
https://nativenewsonline.net/…/nex-benedict-s-death…
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/…/oklahomas-culture…/…
https://www.washingtonblade.com/…/lgbtq-groups-call…/
We understand the media coverage and anti-trans messages that are increasing due to the legislative session here in Kansas can be difficult and overwhelming. There are folks you can talk to. Please reach out or talk to someone you can trust.
Trevor Project866-488-7386thetrevorproject.org
LGBT National Youth Talkline800-246-7743lgbthotline.org
Trans lifeline877-565-8860translifeline.org