The recent death of nonbinary student Nex Benedict, who died one day after a physical altercation inside a school bathroom, has sent shockwaves throughout the LGBTQ+ community in Oklahoma.
While it’s not clear whether the incident involved Nex’s gender identity, the 16-year-old’s family has said the teen endured months of bullying at Owassa High School. For Sarah Adams and other parents of queer kids, it has again raised the haunting question: “Where can we be truly safe?”
The question takes on added weight in a state that has introduced more than 50 anti-LGBTQ+ pieces of legislation so far this year — more than any other state in the nation, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Oklahoma lawmakers pushed more than 40 bills in the previous session.
You’re a bit late for that, unfortunately.
I came in to say something similar. I hope I’m wrong. I wish them all the luck in the world. But I think it’s too late. The hate has already taken over.
That doesn’t mean they need to give up and stop fighting. It means they need to fight twice as hard and gather as many allies as possible. Hate may have taken over, but it doesn’t need to stay there.