Say Their Name.
Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old Oklahoman was murdered, from a beating they endured in a girls’ bathroom at Owasso, Oklahoma. Nex Benedict identified as non-binary, using the pronouns They/Them/Theirs and He/Him/His. This act of murder is a result of Anti-2SLGBTQIA+ legislation, enacted by many state government legislators and school board members. This has nurtured homophobia, transphobia, and hatred towards many students within the public school system.
This murder has sparked many demonstrations and protests nationally, as 2SLGBTQIA+ and Indigenous Rights advocates were touched by Nex’s story. According to Nex’s family members, they had many dreams for the future. They excelled in school and enjoyed art and reading. They found companionship in their cat named Zeus, and entertainment in video games, like Ark and Minecraft. They were a strong individual who learned how to stand up for themselves, especially after becoming a target for bullying.
This bright and beautiful individual did not expect their dreams to be taken away from them on February 7, 2024. They and another friend were harassed by three older girls, and when Nex and their friend started to stand up for themselves, they were attacked and brutally beaten. The next day, Nex died from the extensive injuries they endured. The girls who murdered Nex, the medical providers dismissing the injuries as the cause of their deaths, and elected officials who encourage this hate rhetoric should all be held accountable for this tragedy. Nex was an American whose dreams should have been protected by the schools and this country. Instead, they will never get to live out their dreams. They will never get to learn about their beautiful, Choctaw culture. They will never get to flourish in their identities.
I write Nex’s story to remember their dreams and all they stood for. I urge that you take a look at your American dream. Dream to make a safe space for everyone, especially those like Nex, who are targeted and in need of love, acceptance, and protection. Dream to make change in this world, for justice, love, and equity. Dream for Nex, and for all those whose dreams were also taken from them.