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OKLAHOMA-BASED AND OTHER LGBTQ AND 2STGNC+ ORGANIZATIONS RELEASE STATEMENT ON MEDICAL EXAMINER REPORT ON THE DEATH OF NEX BENEDICT

Tulsa, Oklahoma, Friday, March 15 - Oklahoma-based LGBTQ and 2STGNC+ organizations are responding to the release of a report by the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office regarding the death of Nex Benedict. Nex was a 16-year-old of Choctaw heritage who identified as trans masculine and non-binary, and used he/him or they/them pronouns according to loved ones.
Nex died the day after being attacked three-on-one in a restroom at Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma last month following the policy in Oklahoma that students use the bathrooms that align with their sex assigned at birth.
Nex had reported to police in the hospital following the attack that they had endured a year of bullying in the school, and that they did not believe the school would do anything to address the bullying. The officer discouraged Nex and their family from reporting the incident.

Joint OK Release Statement 

Oklahomans for Equality responds to Westboro Baptist with Pledge-a-Picket Initiative

In response to a planned demonstration by Westboro Baptist Church, Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) encourages its community to join its Pledge-a-Picket Initiative where sponsors can donate per demonstrator participating in this harmful event. Nex Benedict and their family along with the youth of Owasso deserve respect and support, not hateful rhetoric.

“This is an opportunity for our community to respond with love and kindness. Our children need and deserve safe spaces to learn and grow. This is especially true for our 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. Our youth deserve an environment free from bullying, harassment, and harm as they discover who they are and all of the incredible potential that they possess.” said Eddie Carreno, board member and spokesperson for OkEq.

The Rainbow Youth Project, a nonprofit organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ youth, has seen a 500 percent increase in the number of calls on their Crisis Call Line the week following the death of Nex Benedict. About 70 percent of calls mentioned the news about Owasso as a reason for their distress. Time published this data and also shared that 85 percent of callers said they were facing bullying at school and/or on social media.

“We want to provide an opportunity to productively counter the harmful, exclusionary, and hateful message sent by the Westboro contingent,” said Paula Shannon, an OkEq board member. “This initiative gives all of us who believe in the dignity of humanity, love, and inclusivity the opportunity to show the young people in Owasso that so many of us see them,
affirm them, and care about them. Rather than engaging in unproductive yelling at each other, we choose to pledge for and invest dollars toward our values.”

OkEq requests that the community responds with peace, love, and kindness. Here is how you can do so. Join the initiative here. Pledge an amount that you will donate for each demonstrator who participates by holding signs and chanting harmful, hateful rhetoric. For example, if you donate $1 per demonstrator and 100 people show up with anti-2SLBTQIA+ messages, you would contribute $100 in the name of dignity, love, and inclusivity. If you pledged 10 cents per
demonstrator and about 75 people sharing hate line- up on the sidewalks, you would donate $7.50.

All funds donated will go toward OkEq’s youth programs, which includes AFFIRM, a cognitive behavioral therapy-based program for ages 14-19, and Saturday programming with opportunities for peer support, skill building, leadership, learning, advocacy work, mutual-aid, organizing, socializing, and fun!“

The more hate that shows up, the more dollars we will raise to support advocacy for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and our youth programming. Let’s invest in dignity, love and inclusion,” said Eddie Carreno.

Join the Pledge-a-Picket Initiative now. Honor Nex’s dignity as well as that of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Spread love. Show that you value inclusivity.


Nex Benedict


A joint statement from Oklahomans for Equality and T.A.C.O. (Trans Advocacy Coalition of Oklahoma)

Nex 1

Our hearts are broken for the Oklahoma 2SLGBTQIA+ community and for the family, friends, and loved ones of Nex Benedict.

While we are still learning all of the facts surrounding the death of the 16-year-old Owasso student, we are certain that every student has the right to a safe learning environment, free from deadnaming, misgendering, outing, and violence, as well as appropriate medical care.

The persistent, vitriolic legislation and rhetoric being championed by our state leaders are breeding animosity, inciting violence, and harming the queer community, especially our youth.

As we grieve and acknowledge this loss, we are reminded of the work yet to be done because our lives depend on it. Nex Benedict and the countless 2SLGBTQIA+ teens like them deserve better from our state and medical facilities. They deserve the chance to fully be themselves. They deserve to grow up.

Rest in power, Nex.

Tulsa Pride Bingo

Join us for Tulsa Pride Bingo on Saturday, March 16th

👒🍀👒🍀👒🍀👒🍀

Stand a chance to win prizes from the Equality Business Alliance, and enjoy delicious food and drinks while watching some spectacular drag entertainment, and compete in our Best Sunday Bonnet contest.

Featuring performances from your 2024 Tulsa Pride King Haze Davenport Jade and 2024 Tulsa Pride Queen Sara De La Hoya, along with Scrappy Legacy and special guest performer
🏳️‍⚧️❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍🤎🖤
Doors open at 6:30 PM | All proceeds benefit Tulsa Pride

Additional Bingo Cards can be purchased at the door for $5.

Visibly Happy 

Saturday, March 30th at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E 4th ST, Tulsa, OK 74120

We invite you to join us for a visibly happy, visibly queer, Trans Day of Visibility event with Oklahomans for Equality & Twisted Arts!
🏳️‍⚧️🩵🩷🤍🩷🩵🏳️‍⚧️
The evening promises to be filled with joy, laughter, and entertainment. Immerse yourself in the stunning performances from some of your local drag favorites such as Londenn D. Raine, Nakita Fierce, Scrappy Legacy, and ACE. Moreover, Bronco Henryetta will also grace the stage with a soulful musical performance. We look forward to welcoming you when the doors open at 6 PM. This event is free and for all ages!

Oklahomans for Equality seeks equal rights for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and families through intersectional advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center.

Serving the community and allies since 1980, Oklahomans for Equality is home to a diverse, vibrant, and engaged community, knowledgeable staff, and dedicated volunteers.