Lambda Legal, ACLU issue statement on death of Nex Benedict
Nex Benedict Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of Oklahoma issued the following joint statement in response to news of the death of Nex Benedict: “We are gravely heartbroken to learn about the death of Nex Benedict and extend our overwhelming condolences to their family, their friends and the entire transgender community across Oklahoma.
The assault on Nex is an inevitable result of the hateful rhetoric and discriminatory legislation targeting Oklahoma trans youth.
We challenged Oklahoma’s law requiring schools to discriminate against students like Nex because we believe every student should have the safe and affirming environment they need to thrive, and policies that put transgender students in danger make schools less safe places for all students. “We are deeply troubled by reports the school failed to respond appropriately to the altercation that preceded Nex’s death and demand a thorough, open investigation into the matter.
We will never stop fighting for 2SLGBTQ+ people across Oklahoma and the country until every state is a safe place to raise every family.” Passed into law in May of 2022, Oklahoma SB 615 requires all public and public charter schools in the state that serve pre-K through 12th-grade students to designate multiple occupancy restrooms at school for the exclusive use of either the male or the female sex, as designated on individuals’ original birth certificates.
