Did a “nonbinary bathroom ban” kill an Oklahoma trans teen? That’s what tax-funded news wants you to think.
The PBS NewsHour again demonstrated its fealty to “trans” issues, while adding yet another new definition into the brave new mix, in a Thursday evening story on the tragic case of Nex Benedict, a “non-binary” Oklahoma student who died mysteriously one day after a fight in a school restroom.
Oklahoma’s Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill requiring students to use the bathroom that corresponds with their sex, a topic PBS has covered before (using more woke terminology), with local “communities correspondent” Adam Kemp once again on the scene fretting over an alleged lack of transgender rights in the state.
Anchor Amna Nawaz: There are new details today about the death of an Oklahoma teenager, the day after a physical altercation in a school restroom. Nex Benedict, who was nonbinary, attended high school in Owasso, a suburb of Tulsa. Police say that investigation is ongoing. But Nex’s death is raising concerns in LGBTQ-plus communities and igniting fear in some families and among students who identify as queer.
In this story about a tragic death, Kemp made his priorities clear — arcane sexual terminology. Benedict was apparently a biological male in the girl’s bathroom, though those simple facts were amazingly hard to confirm in the woke press. Many details remain vague, but that didn’t stop PBS from jumping to conclusions.
Adam Kemp: Yes, it’s important to start the story, that we don’t know how Nex identified. What we do know is the teen was gender-expansive. Nex was a 16-year-old sophomore student at Owasso High School. On February 7, they were involved in an altercation with three other students in a school bathroom. Early indications — or early reports actually — indicate that Nex had their head hit against the bathroom ground several times during that altercation, which lasted around two minutes, before it was broken up by other students. All the students involved were then checked out by a school nurse. Nex was then taken by a family member to the hospital. Nex went home that evening. And the next day, medics responded to a medical emergency involving Nex, who was then later declared dead at a local hospital….
The lead may have been buried here: So did Nex die from fight injuries or not? Kemp didn’t miss a chance to bring up Oklahoma’s so-called “nonbinary bathroom ban.”
Kemp: Right. Police did say that Nex’s death, preliminary reports indicate that it was not the result of trauma. School officials have been tight-lipped so far on this, mostly because this case does involve juveniles. The Owasso police did say that an investigation is ongoing. It is important context to note for the story that, in 2022, Oklahoma did pass a transgender and nonbinary bathroom ban, so that students are not allowed to use the bathroom that their gender identity aligns with….
Nawaz: Adam, I know you have been speaking with families in the area, with LGBTQ-plus advocates. What are you hearing from them?
Kemp: Yes, right now, it’s a lot of fear from families that I’m hearing. Right now, in the Oklahoma state legislature, more than 50-plus anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced so far this session. That’s the most of any state, according to the ACLU…..
After a soundbite from LGBTQ activist group “Freedom Oklahoma,” Kemp continued
Kemp: I have also spoken to many nonbinary and trans parents here in the state who just say the atmosphere is that of despair right now. One mother, in particular, talked about just the hateful rhetoric directed at her son that she’s seen ramped up in the past couple years alone. Right now, she’s grappling with the idea of moving out of state and whether that’s the best option to keep her son safe.
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A transcript is available, click “Expand.”
PBS NewsHour
2/22/24
7:28:28 pm (ET)
Amna Nawaz: There are new details today about the death of an Oklahoma teenager the day after a physical altercation in a school restroom.
Nex Benedict, who was nonbinary, attended high school in Owasso, a suburb of Tulsa. Police say that investigation is ongoing. But Nex’s death is raising concerns in LGBTQ+ communities and igniting fear in some families and among students who identify as queer.
For a closer look, I’m joined now by our communities correspondent, Adam Kemp, who’s been reporting on this story from Oklahoma.
So, Adam, let’s begin, please, if you can just tell us a little bit more about Nex, about who this teenager was, and also what we know about the events that unfolded the day before Nex’s death.
Adam Kemp: Yes, it’s important to start the story that we don’t know how Nex identified. What we do know is, the teen was gender-expansive.
Nex was a 16-year-old sophomore student at Owasso High School. On February 7, they were involved in an altercation with three other students in a school bathroom. Early indications — or early reports actually indicate that Nex had their head hit against the bathroom ground several times during that altercation, which lasted around two minutes, before it was broken up by other students.
All the students involved were then checked out by a school nurse. Nex was then taken by a family member to the hospital. Nex went home that evening. And the next day, medics responded to a medical emergency involving Nex, who was then later declared dead at a local hospital.
Family and friends have described Nex as a gamer who loved to play Minecraft, a straight-A student, and a lover of animals, including a pet cat named Zeus.
Amna Nawaz: So, Adam, what about from authorities and from the school district? What are we hearing from them about Nex’s death?
Adam Kemp: Right.
Police did say that Nex’s death, preliminary reports indicate that it was not the result of trauma. School officials have been tight-lipped so far on this, mostly because this case does involve juveniles. The Owasso police did say that an investigation is ongoing.
It is important context to note for the story that, in 2022, Oklahoma did pass a transgender and nonbinary bathroom ban, so that students are not allowed to use the bathroom that their gender identity aligns with. State Superintendent Ryan Walters, it should be noted, is a very big critic of LGBTQ+ issues in this state.
But he has offered Owasso Public Schools his support and the support of the state for counseling services. Governor Kevin Stitt actually released a statement saying — quote — “The death of any child in an Oklahoma school is a tragedy, and bullies must be held accountable.”
Again, there’s just still a lot of questions at this time without a lot of answers.
Ana Nawaz: Adam, I know you have been speaking with families in the area, with LGBTQ+ advocates. What are you hearing from them?
Adam Kemp: Yes, right now, it’s a lot of fear from families that I’m hearing.
Right now, in the Oklahoma state legislature, more than 50 plus anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced so far this session. That’s the most of any state, according to the ACLU. I spoke with Freedom Oklahoma, which is a LGBTQ+ advocacy group, who has been doing their own investigation into this case and has found that Nex had been bullied for more than a year.
Speaking with Nicole Mcafee, their executive director, she had this to say about kind of the mood of their community right now.
Nicole Mcafee, Executive Director, Freedom Oklahoma: It feels incredibly overwhelming to not know how we can keep kids in our community alive as they are being bullied and targeted not only by fellow students, but by the state.
We have a lot of teachers in that space who they themselves are queer or trans and nonbinary and are grappling with whether they can keep doing this work or if they feel like their only option is to leave.
Adam Kemp: I have also spoken to many nonbinary and trans parents here in the state who just say the atmosphere is that of despair right now.
One mother, in particular, talked about just the hateful rhetoric directed at her son that she’s seen ramped up in the past couple years alone. Right now, she’s grappling with the idea of moving out of state and whether that’s the best option to keep her son safe.
Amna Nawaz: So, Adam, given all the questions, what can we expect to happen next?
Adam Kemp: Yes, Owasso police say an autopsy and toxicology report are forthcoming. We know that — we don’t know yet what the consequences could be for the students that were involved in the fight.
We do know that Nex’s family has hired an attorney and that vigils are being planned around the state for later this month.
Amna Nawaz: Of course, our thoughts are with Nex Benedict’s family tonight. Adam Kemp, our communities reporter joining us from Oklahoma. Adam, thank you.
