March 13, 2024, 3:00 PM
Oklahoma 16-year-old Nex Benedict died by suicide, in response to an post-mortem report launched Wednesday by the state’s Workplace of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Benedict, a member of the 2SLGBTQ community, died one day after getting into a physical fight with a number of different college students at Owasso Excessive College.
Benedict was nonbinary and glided by they/them pronouns, in response to Benedict’s household. 2SLGBTQ consists of Two Spirit, an umbrella time period used to explain a 3rd gender in Native and Indigenous communities. Sue Benedict, their mom, is a registered member of the Choctaw Nation.
Anti-LGBTQ bullying and violence have been the middle of dialog within the aftermath of Benedict’s dying earlier this month, as Benedict’s household known as for motion and solutions regarding the bullying they are saying Nex confronted in class.
“The Benedicts know all too properly the devastating results of bullying and college violence, and pray for significant change whereby bullying is taken significantly and no household has to take care of one other preventable tragedy,” the household stated through their legal professional in an announcement to ABC Information.
LGBTQ+ youth are at better threat for poor psychological well being, bullying and violence than their non-LGBTQ+ friends, in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which inspires colleges to implement supportive insurance policies and practices for college kids who will in flip expertise higher well being outcomes.
LGBTQ college students are additionally extra prone to significantly take into account suicide or try than their non-LGBTQ friends, the CDC studies.
The Department of Education has opened an investigation into Owasso Public Colleges following a grievance from the Human Rights Marketing campaign associated to such issues.
“Bullying in any type is unacceptable,” the district stated in a previous assertion. “We take studies of bullying very significantly and have insurance policies and procedures in place to handle such habits.”
In case you are scuffling with ideas of suicide or apprehensive a few pal or cherished one, name or textual content the Suicide & Disaster Lifeline at 988 totally free, confidential emotional assist 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
ABC Information’ Tesfaye Negussie contributed to this report.
It is a growing story. Please test again for updates.