President Joe Biden launched an announcement on Thursday honoring the lifetime of Nex Benedict, a nonbinary Oklahoma scholar who was discovered to have died by suicide after they have been assaulted in a faculty rest room final month.
“Jill and I are heartbroken by the current lack of Nex Benedict. Each younger particular person deserves to have the basic proper and freedom to be who they’re, and really feel secure and supported in school of their communities,” Biden stated within the assertion. “Nex Benedict, a child who simply wished to be accepted, ought to nonetheless be right here with us at present.”
On Wednesday, the Oklahoma medical expert dominated that the 16-year-old died from toxicity of an antihistamine and an antidepressant, in keeping with experiences.
“Nonbinary and transgender individuals are a number of the bravest Individuals I do know,” Biden continued. “However no one ought to should be courageous simply to be themselves. In reminiscence of Nex, we should all recommit to our work to finish discrimination and handle the suicide disaster impacting too many nonbinary and transgender kids.”
On Feb. 7, Benedict was assaulted by three different college students in an Owasso Excessive Faculty rest room. In police footage launched final month, Benedict described how college students “jumped” them after Benedict threw water at them. Benedict advised an officer that they have been bullied “due to the way in which that [they] gown.”
Benedict’s loss of life made nationwide headlines and put a highlight on the more and more hostile local weather many trans and nonbinary college students face in school. States and college boards nationwide have more and more adopted anti-LGBTQ insurance policies that block trans college students from utilizing the restroom that aligns with their gender identification and bar them from taking part in class sports activities, amongst different restrictions.
A current report from the Trevor Mission confirmed that 36% of LGBTQ+ youth surveyed consider they don’t seem to be prone to reside to the age of 35 — and lots of of these youth reported excessive ranges of tension, despair and self-harm.
All through his presidency, Biden has stated that defending and increasing LGBTQ rights is a precedence for his administration. He has reversed many Trump-era anti-LGBTQ insurance policies and has issued quite a few government orders to guard in opposition to discrimination on the premise of gender identification and sexual orientation, particularly in colleges.
Earlier this month, the Division of Schooling opened an investigation into the Owasso Public Faculty District to look at whether or not the district did not observe Title IX pointers round sex-based harassment.
On the State of the Union final week, Biden addressed transgender Individuals along with his longstanding catchphrase: “I’ve your again!” He additionally known as on Congress to go the Equality Act, a landmark LGBTQ+ rights legislation that has been caught in committee for years as Republicans have threatened to filibuster.
“My prayers are with Nex’s household, pals, and all who liked them — and to all LGBTQI+ Individuals for whom this tragedy feels so private, know this: I’ll at all times have your again,” Biden stated Thursday.
For those who or somebody you realize wants assist, name or textual content 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for psychological well being help. Moreover, you will discover native psychological well being and disaster assets at dontcallthepolice.com. Exterior of the U.S., please go to the Worldwide Affiliation for Suicide Prevention.